Bulkhead Fitting

[Allmost]

Hello,

how do you seal the fitting that Screws into bulkhead, and has slip on other side ?

I have used PVC glue on the slip side, and just some teflon tape on the threads. is the teflon supposed to make the seal ?

would it help if I placed an o-Ring in there ? between the "outside fitting"
and inside fitting on both sides of the bulkhead ?

if I use PVC glue on the threads, will I EVER be able to take it apart ? even if that means breaking a piece or two. ...

 

[woodnaquanut]

The BH itself is not glued. The flange and gasket is on the wet side, nut is on the dry side. It can be done the other way but is not common. The threads the nut uses are ONLY for the big nut. Nothing else connects to these threads!

The inside of the BH is can be either slip or thread on either the wet side (side facing the tank) or the dry side. On the wet side you don't need to glue (slip) or teflon tape (thread). A little leakage hurts nothing here. It's all going thru the BH anyway.

On the dry side (side facing air) slip is glued just like any other PVC slip joint. If it is threaded you can use either teflon tape or teflon pipe 'dope'. Don't over tighten as it can split the BH.

I like slip on the wet side and threaded on the dry. This makes it easy to take standpipes out (slip with a friction fit) and if I need to break the system down the dry side just unscrews and can be used again.

 

[viggen]

Teflon tape is all you need to eliminate water from passing through the threads. I usually put a few layers of tape and never had a problem.

Do not glue the threads..... Tape is all that's needed

Rubber gasket goes on wet side of bulkhead and no gasket on nut side. No Oringo is needed.... Teflon tape is the same stuff plumbers use on house plumbing

 

[Allmost]

The BH itself is not glued. The flange and gasket is on the wet side, nut is on the dry side. It can be done the other way but is not common. The threads the nut uses are ONLY for the big nut. Nothing else connects to these threads!

The inside of the BH is can be either slip or thread on either the wet side (side facing the tank) or the dry side. On the wet side you don't need to glue (slip) or teflon tape (thread). A little leakage hurts nothing here. It's all going thru the BH anyway.

On the dry side (side facing air) slip is glued just like any other PVC slip joint. If it is threaded you can use either teflon tape or teflon pipe 'dope'. Don't over tighten as it can split the BH.

I like slip on the wet side and threaded on the dry. This makes it easy to take standpipes out (slip with a friction fit) and if I need to break the system down the dry side just unscrews and can be used again.

Thank you, but let me explain again .

Bulkhead is done, installed, and tested.

Bulkhead has 2 Fittings on either side [one on dry side, one on wet side] wet side with the durso plumbing.

now the Fitting that is screwed into the bulk head is leaking.

is teflon tape what is supposed to make a seal there > ?

 

[Allmost]

Teflon tape is all you need to eliminate water from passing through the threads. I usually put a few layers of tape and never had a problem.

Do not glue the threads..... Tape is all that's needed

Rubber gasket goes on wet side of bulkhead and no gasket on nut side. No Oringo is needed.... Teflon tape is the same stuff plumbers use on house plumbing

so I have done that. applied Teflon tape, same way as it screws in, went 2-3 layers. and now its leaking.

do I apply more teflon tape ?

should I use the thicker ones [orange I think] thats for gas pipes ?

Thanks

 

[gbru316]

remove teflon tape, add more layers.

I usually do 5-8 layers of the standard white teflon tape, have never had a problem.

 

[woodnaquanut]

so I have done that. applied Teflon tape, same way as it screws in, went 2-3 layers. and now its leaking.

do I apply more teflon tape ?

should I use the thicker ones [orange I think] thats for gas pipes ?

Thanks

Stick with the white, for water, teflon tape. You could also try the teflon pipe dope instead of tape. Biggest risk here is over tightening. It could split/crack the BH.

Sorry about the BH from beginning to end novel before. I wasn't sure where you were in the project.

edit:
I agree w/ gbru316, aka 'fast typer'

 

[jerpa]

Take all the tape off the fittings and count the turns needed to get it hand tight. Unscrew it and add 2 layers of tape. Screw it 1/2-3/4 of a turn past the number you determined before. I prefer a pipe dope made for PVC but tape can be used successfully. If it still leaks I would try a new fitting and make sure the bulkhead hasn't split.

 

[Allmost]

Thank you guys really appreciate it

Im gonna redo the tape tonight. go an extra layer. Hope it solves it.

never thought Teflon can form the seal

Thank god I installed Unions everywhere though !

 

[billdogg]

I prefer to use teflon paste on everything bigger than 1/2 - 3/4. It is very esay to use - just a small bead all the way around the male fitting so that as you tighten it, it spreads itself around. I have never had a leak using teflon paste, regardless of the size pvc. Can't say the same for teflon tape, and contrary to popular belief, more IS NOT better!

 

[Allmost]

YAP !

on the last set up I did a couple of months ago, thats the mistake I made, tooooo much tape, then it wouldnt go in, and started leaking, so took some off and it worked.

this time, I wanted to be smart and added only 2 layers ... lets just say PVC has beaten me again lol

can I get the paste from HD ? is it same as teflon dope ?

 

[Sonicboom]

i always put a dab of this on the threads so the nut tightens smoothly.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

 

[billdogg]

Yes, you can get teflon paste at HD/Lowes, usually right next to the teflon tape. DO NOT use silicone grease on the threaded fittings! They are designed with a taper to ensure a good, tight, fit. All the silicone grease would allow you to do is overtighten the fitting and possibly crack it.

 

[Allmost]

Cool, thank you, will try the paste tonight

when I tighten the fitting, it reaches the fitting on the dry side, so that should be a good point to stop for me ? thats what I usually do, have my GF hold the durso in place, as soon as the fitting hits it, I stop to not turn the durso other way around as well.

now with the paste, does it matter how much I put on ? just one layer ?

I guess the extra would just come out when screwed in, never mind, dumb Question

 

[hllywd]

Yes, you can get teflon paste at HD/Lowes, usually right next to the teflon tape. DO NOT use silicone grease on the threaded fittings! They are designed with a taper to ensure a good, tight, fit. All the silicone grease would allow you to do is overtighten the fitting and possibly crack it.

I would use the paste, rather than tape. Like someone stated previously, make sure you haven't split the bulkhead already.

 

[hllywd]

i always put a dab of this on the threads so the nut tightens smoothly.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

It may tighten smoothly, but it's a lubricant, not a sealant. I might put a film of this on my gasket if I had it handy, however it doesn't have much use when installing a bulkhead otherwise. It is not a thread sealant.

 

[Allmost]

found the best thread paste ... great white something with TPFE ... worked amazingly well.

didnt even tighten it that much [at least 1 turn less than before]

Thanks everyone

 

[Sonicboom]

It may tighten smoothly, but it's a lubricant, not a sealant. I might put a film of this on my gasket if I had it handy, however it doesn't have much use when installing a bulkhead otherwise. It is not a thread sealant.

ahh sorry i forgot to mention i used both, the pipe thread tape and a dab of lubricant, seals perfectly.

found the best thread paste ... great white something with TPFE ... worked amazingly well.

didnt even tighten it that much [at least 1 turn less than before]

Thanks everyone

Glad to hear it worked!