Repair or replace cracked skimmer outlet?

[CBerger02]

Just finished the plumbing for my AGP and noticed some cracks along the drain for the skimmer. It leaks pretty bad. Not sure if it's from me gronking too hard when I screwed the fitting in or what. Is this repairable, or should I just replace it since I won't have to drain anything yet?

 

[ajw22]

Try putting Plast-aid on the cracks...

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You have nothing to lose. If it does not hold then replace it.

You overtightened the threaded fitting.

PVC Repair - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Assembling Threaded Plastic Fittings​

The "Do's and Don'ts" of Assembling Threaded Plastic Fittings from Lasco Fittings, now Westlake Pipe & Fittings, provided a great explanation of the Do’s and Don’ts not to have threaded fittings crack.

From the Lasco article:

• Don't over-tighten joints by giving them "one more turn to be sure.”
• Do finger tighten plus one or two turns - No More.
• Don't use "stronger" Schedule 80 threaded fittings, assuming they may solve the problem of splitting through over-tightening.
• Use only Schedule 40 threaded fittings with Schedule 40 pipe and fittings.
• Don't wrap Teflon tape, paste, or pipe dope to add bulk or lubricate the joint.
• Do use a sealant for threaded joints.
• A sealing compound must be compatible with plastics. Many brands of pipe sealant contain oils, solvents, or carriers that can damage plastic. A proper sealant must be certified by the manufacturer to be harmless to the fitting material and not to contaminate fluid in the pipe. Finally, a sealing compound must not lubricate the joint to encourage over-tightening. Several sealants on the market meet all these requirements.

 

[CBerger02]

Thanks for the response. I think I will go ahead and replace it while it's drained. Is Hayward the best brand out there?

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks for the response. I think I will go ahead and replace it while it's drained. Is Hayward the best brand out there?

If your pool is drilled for a Hayward, that is what will fit. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, tighten a plumbing fitting that far into the female part. Pipe fittings are actually wedges and what you see will result again if you do.

At least 40 years ago one of the finest plumbers I ever met taught me, "Never more than 5, never less than 3." You should never see more than 5 threads and never less than 3 with a properly tightened fitting.

That is the danger of Teflon tape and PVC fittings. It is a lubricant and you can overtighten. That being said, I have always used it with never an issue, but I am careful and always stuck to the 5 and 3 idea. If it still leaks a bit at 3, take it out, add more tape (its OK to do that) or dry it and put a very thin layer of silicone sealant over the threads. I have always used the silicone every time anyway so I keep it on the truck.

If you decide to use some form of liquid thread sealant, be sure the instructions for the skimmer say that it is OK. Many plastic pieces of pool equipment advise against it.

 

[ajw22]

Is Hayward the best brand out there?

Pretty much.

If you have a cutout for the Hayward skimmer no other will likely fit.

 

[CBerger02]

I think the brand for it is Hydrotools, but in the skimmer cover says it. There are no marking on the housing that I can see.

 

[1poolman1]

I think the brand for it is Hydrotools, but in the skimmer cover says it. There are no marking on the housing that I can see.

Whether Hayward or Hydrotools, they are both made of ABS, a much more brittle plastic than PVC. You might get away with tightening a fitting into a PVC part that far, but you can see what happens with ABS.

 

[CBerger02]

Whether Hayward or Hydrotools, they are both made of ABS, a much more brittle plastic than PVC. You might get away with tightening a fitting into a PVC part that far, but you can see what happens with ABS.

Yup, lesson learned!