trouble with bulkhead seal

[acdraindrps]

What size is the hole? Have you tried a stubby bulk head?

 

[cuch]

Need to make shure hole is spotless no salt or coraline and do not over tighten bulkhead because that won't help!

 

[jacksonpt]

What size is the hole? Have you tried a stubby bulk head?

1.5" hole. Yes, I have tried the short bulkheads from glass holes. Might be worth trying again though as I've tweaked a few things with how the pump is plumbed to the sump.

 

[jacksonpt]

Thought I had it all cleared up... ran the system for about 4 hours last night only to find a puddle around my stand.

I have a steady drip from the bulkhead still and a slow drip from where the plumbing connects to the pump outlet.

I'm so far beyond frustrated at this point...

 

[pascal32]

Thought I had it all cleared up... ran the system for about 4 hours last night only to find a puddle around my stand.

I have a steady drip from the bulkhead still and a slow drip from where the plumbing connects to the pump outlet.

I'm so far beyond frustrated at this point...

for the pump if it is threaded, pick up heavy duty teflon tape (pink) and use that, wrap it tightly one or two passes should be enough

I'm not sure of where your bulkhead is - is it for the pump intake, return, overflow box? any chance the plumbing is preventing the bulkhead from seating? I prefer to tighten bulkheads with plumbing loose and then do the plumbing.

If the rubber seal is on the flange side you should be good. you might have a bad bulkhead...check for cracks. I've heard of bad bulkheads that leak no matter what you do.

 

[jacksonpt]

The bulkhead is in the sump and connects to the inlet on my return pump. It is slip, not threaded, and the PVC is glued and has a good seal -the drip is clearly coming from the bulkhead, not the plumbing.

The seal is on the flange side (on the outside of the tank). I glued up a new on the other day as a just in case... going to swap that on in tonight and see if anything changes.

 

[obaptista]

Hello Jackson, Any chance that the pump is slightly misaligned and the pipe from the pump to the bulkhead is acting like a lever and breaking the seal? I use flex pvc pipe to avoid this issue. +1 for the silicone grease. It allows me a gentle last 1/8 turn of the nut.

 

[jacksonpt]

Any chance that the pump is slightly misaligned and the pipe from the pump to the bulkhead is acting like a lever and breaking the seal?

Unlikely, but I can't say with 100% certainty that it's not the case... just not sure how to fix it. I was pretty careful setting up the platform that it sits on to get the right height...

Also, the drip is coming from the side of the bulkhead. If the pump was too high or too low, wouldn't I see it at the top or bottom? Or can't I make that assumption when dealing with such small amounts of water?

 

[obaptista]

I'd also check front-to-back alignment. -- So, I ran into similar issues with a bulkhead where the flange was on the outside and the pipe went a through a wall and was not sufficiently supported. So, I supported it with a strap and a 1/4 turn with channel locks solved the problem. Hope this helps.

 

[jacksonpt]

Ran everything overnight with no drips. Not sure if it has anything to do with the new bulkhead i used or i just was finally able to get everything lined up and fitted correctly... but either way Ill take it.

 

[Sophie10]

That's great news, Jackson!