leak from salt cell union

[JohnT]

Try using grease or Vaseline on the threads and also on the rubber seal ring to allow for easier tightening.

Welcome to TFP!

Petroleum products like Vaseline can be harmful to seals. You should only use pool lube, which is silicon-based.

 

[crackers8199]

Did the unions leak without the thread tape? The sealing surface is sealed by an o-ring. Thread tape does nothing on the union except bind the union and keep it from tensioning correctly. If you haven’t I’d remove all the thread tape and try to seal them.

yes. that was the whole reason i tried the thread tape.

i've already changed and lubed the o-ring. it still leaks.

 

[crackers8199]

alright, this is still leaking. my plan is to take some time in january to replace the unions to try to fix it.

can someone give me advice on the best way to do this and get it to fit tightly together? i understand the general idea of how to do the PVC work, but figuring out how to make it all fit tightly like it does not is not something i've been able to wrap my head around yet.

 

[trivetman]

Theres no big secret to it. Just measure carefully, glue and get the pipe seated in the coupling. If you haven’t done it before, practice on some scrap and waste a few couplings to get the feel of it.

Don’t forget to put the union nuts on before you glue. I know thats been done more than once!