Leaking Threaded Connection

[kllentini]

Hello all,

I have a new Hayward SP SP2670007x10 with a new threaded fitting which threads onto the top of the pump on the return side. I’ve attached a photo to show where I cannot get the threaded connection to stop leaking (I have not fully screwed the connection onto the pump in the picture for easier illustration). I’ve used the thread tape that Hayward sent with the pump and connection. I’ve loosened, retried, retaped a few times but it is still leaking. Any suggestions, like am I missing something? Is there supposed to be a gasket for that connection? Should I try thread sealant or something else? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[PoolStored]

You should use good high-temp unions on the pump.
Looks like this with an o-ring that seals to the pump, not the threads.
Jandy, pentair, hayward and CMP make good unions

 

[Bperry]

Hello all,

I have a new Hayward SP SP2670007x10 with a new threaded fitting which threads onto the top of the pump on the return side. I’ve attached a photo to show where I cannot get the threaded connection to stop leaking (I have not fully screwed the connection onto the pump in the picture for easier illustration). I’ve used the thread tape that Hayward sent with the pump and connection. I’ve loosened, retried, retaped a few times but it is still leaking. Any suggestions, like am I missing something? Is there supposed to be a gasket for that connection? Should I try thread sealant or something else? Thanks in advance for any input.

If the threads in the pump are tapered then you can use teflon tape/sealant, but if they are straight threads then there needs to be some kind of physical seal like a o-ring shown above. Is the white fitting what came with the pump?

 

[kllentini]

Hey thanks, the white fitting did come with the pump, along with some tape. I would describe the theads as straight and not tapered, but long story short the pump was replaced under warranty and they sent the new fitting with it. An installer set up the original pump and system and I replicated what he had done with this new pump. It did not have a visible O-ring but I wasn’t sure if there was an internal gasket I’m missing? It’s barely leaking now but I’ve retaped it and tried it three times and it still leaks a little. I feel like if I try to tighten the threaded fitting while it’s in place it maybe leaks a little more.

 

[Bperry]

Hey thanks, the white fitting did come with the pump, along with some tape. I would describe the theads as straight and not tapered, but long story short the pump was replaced under warranty and they sent the new fitting with it. An installer set up the original pump and system and I replicated what he had done with this new pump. It did not have a visible O-ring but I wasn’t sure if there was an internal gasket I’m missing? It’s barely leaking now but I’ve retaped it and tried it three times and it still leaks a little. I feel like if I try to tighten the threaded fitting while it’s in place it maybe leaks a little more.

If it came with tape, those are tapered pipe threads. Do you have experience with Teflon tape? If not, the tape needs to wrap clockwise around the threads (when you are looking into the bottom of the fitting, which goes into the pump). If you wrap the wrong way, it’ll just bunch up the tape a leak. It also looks like not much of the fitting is threaded into the pump. But you mentioned you back it out for the picture?

 

[kllentini]

If it came with tape, those are tapered pipe threads. Do you have experience with Teflon tape? If not, the tape needs to wrap clockwise around the threads (when you are looking into the bottom of the fitting, which goes into the pump). If you wrap the wrong way, it’ll just bunch up the tape a leak. It also looks like not much of the fitting is threaded into the pump. But you mentioned you back it out for the picture?

So the origin of all this, and I started a thread on it last year, was my pump overheated at the end of last year’s pool season and a threaded connection blew off the top of the pump. This pump was replaced under warranty and I replaced the pvc connections that were warped as well. I nursed the broken pump for the last few weeks of the pool season, I had no water leaks but I was getting air and gurgling thru the returns.

Fast forward to today, I again retaped and reattached this new threaded connection and again it still has a slow, seeping water leak. I started this thread because I can’t solve this leak since I opened the pool on Sunday 5/18. I am definitely continuing to get a small amount of air bubbles thru the returns, but nothing like how bad it was at the end of last summer. I’m trying to stop this immediate seepage, obviously because it shouldn’t be happening, but also to see if this is causing any of the slight remaining air leakage thru the returns. Do you this a leak at this part of the system would cause any air bubbles to pass thru the returns?

 

[Bperry]

So the origin of all this, and I started a thread on it last year, was my pump overheated at the end of last year’s pool season and a threaded connection blew off the top of the pump. This pump was replaced under warranty and I replaced the pvc connections that were warped as well. I nursed the broken pump for the last few weeks of the pool season, I had no water leaks but I was getting air and gurgling thru the returns.

Fast forward to today, I again retaped and reattached this new threaded connection and again it still has a slow, seeping water leak. I started this thread because I can’t solve this leak since I opened the pool on Sunday 5/18. I am definitely continuing to get a small amount of air bubbles thru the returns, but nothing like how bad it was at the end of last summer. I’m trying to stop this immediate seepage, obviously because it shouldn’t be happening, but also to see if this is causing any of the slight remaining air leakage thru the returns. Do you this a leak at this part of the system would cause any air bubbles to pass thru the returns?

Leak on the pressure side is letting water out, but not letting air in. What’s the connection look like now (the one still leaking). Picture?

 

[PoolStored]

See post #2

 

[kllentini]

So I’m attaching a few pictures, including a pulled back view of the whole system. But the slow seeping leak is at the connection where you can see the blue tape.

Regarding post #2 for the high temp union with o-ring that seals to the pump, I’m not ignoring that but I just replicated what had worked without issue for 3 pool seasons, and again I used what Hayward sent me. So I will look into that but I would need to find what fits my current other threaded adapters and clear elbow pipe.

Finally, my understanding is the air would be getting in somewhere between the skimmers and the pump, correct? Or could other fittings between the pump and the filter and or the returns after the filter be the source of the air? When this issue happened last year I was not losing water at all, so I assumed the pump basket was compromised in some way. But again the pump was replaced and it’s brand new (unless they sent me a refurbished one) and was placed into service on 5/18/25. Thanks for the input and continued advice.

 

[kllentini]

So I’m attaching a few pictures, including a pulled back view of the whole system. But the slow seeping leak is at the connection where you can see the blue tape.

Regarding post #2 for the high temp union with o-ring that seals to the pump, I’m not ignoring that but I just replicated what had worked without issue for 3 pool seasons, and again I used what Hayward sent me. So I will look into that but I would need to find what fits my current other threaded adapters and clear elbow pipe.

Finally, my understanding is the air would be getting in somewhere between the skimmers and the pump, correct? Or could other fittings between the pump and the filter and or the returns after the filter be the source of the air? When this issue happened last year I was not losing water at all, so I assumed the pump basket was compromised in some way. But again the pump was replaced and it’s brand new (unless they sent me a refurbished one) and was placed into service on 5/18/25. Thanks for the input and continued advice.

Of course I forgot the picture but here they are. We had that big storm come through Mass last night so the general wetness is from last night’s heavy rain.

 

[Bperry]

Of course I forgot the picture but here they are. We had that big storm come through Mass last night so the general wetness is from last night’s heavy rain.

Not sure I have any other suggestions if that white fitting isn’t cracked. How many wraps of tape are on it?

 

[Lake Placid]

Pull a length of tape out from the roll and twist it tight to make it look like rope/thread. Wrap that into the threads of the fitting from the bottom to about halfway up the fitting or a little more. Then let the tape flatten out and wrap over your rolled tape with flat tape as you normally would.