Uniseal Leaking

[newsalt]

I have a uniseal at the outlet of my DIY Skimmer that is leaking. It's not leaking between the outlet pipe and the seal, it's leaking from between the seal and the skimmer column. I have globbed on a ton of silicone and let it sit for 48 hrs, but then when I fill it with water, I still get a drip. The uniseal is for 1" pipe, so the hole in the skimmer column is 1-3/4". Anyone have any ideas as to what I might be able to do given the size of the hole in the column?

 

[coyoteseven]

Is this going to be an in-sump or HOB skimmer? If in-sump, I wouldn't worry too much about a slight leak... HOB of course, is a different matter.

Maybe a little silicone lubricant in the uniseal's channel could help it conform to the hole's shape and seal any minute leaks.

Just my 2¢

 

[lakee911]

It probably can not conform to the curved surface as the seal is being stretched on the outside and compressed on the inside. I would try a REAL bulkhead designed for a curved surface (or w/ a couple of gaskets or some silcone).

Jason

 

[andycook]

Where do you get real bulkeads designed for curved surfaces?

-Andy

 

[andycook]

How thick is the acrylic? It may not be thick enough for the uniseal to create a proper seal.

-Andy

 

[newsalt]

The acrylic is 1/8" thk. I'd also like to know were I can get a bulkhead for curved surfaces.

 

[H20ENG]

Heres your fix Remove the Uniseal (way easier said than done!) and wrap it with several turns of teflon tape. It adds just enough thickness, but is still rubbery like the Uni to finally seal that bugger.

Also, many people leave the hole too rough after hole sawing. I use a razor blade to cleanly scrape off the burrs, so it will seal well. Hold the blad at 90 degrees to the material and scrape, dont cut.
HTH!

 

[andycook]

The problem is the acrylic isn't thick enough to create a good seal. Try the two suggestions (smooth the hole and teflon tape).

I wish lakee911 would tell us.

 

[h20cooled]

That is not true that the acrylic is NOT thick enough, I have used many uniseals of varying sizes in 1/8" thick tubing and never had a leak. The only time I've ever had a problem is when the hole was to big.

 

[toastman]

You may have cut the hole a bit out of round and thats causing the problem, you could run a bead of silicone around the uniseal before you instert it into the tube, let the silicone dry completely, you are basically adding to the thickness of the uniseal, once it is dry insert it in the tube and see if it leaks. Other idea would be to cut a section of acrylic tubing, glue it over the original hole, you will have to slice the new tubing in thirds or quarters to make it fit up, and then drill a new hole for another fitting....just some of my thoughts

 

[lakee911]

Sorry, I wasn't monitoring the thread. I've seen them mentioned before, but I've never used one. Google Curved Surface Bulkhead maybe? If I had to guess, it would probably consist of some sort of gasketted plate or washer with a convex side (for the inside of the curved surface) and flat side (for the bulkhead) and then an opposite concave washer/plate on the outside. I dunno...maybe you could fabricate one yourself out of some nylon and use a dremmel w/ a sanding wheel?

Good luck,
Jason (is now subscribed to thread)

 

[GROSSR]

I have uniseals that leak. I have 2 that are fine and two that leak. I tried silicone and the first time it didn't appear to work. I kept getting a drip. Frustrated, I pulled all the silicone off and simply created a wall of silicone over the seal. I didn't try to force it under the uniseal just where it want to go and smoothed the silicone over the whole uniseal.

Next I build a rim to the base of my skimmer to catch any drips. I have had it filled with water for 2 days and so far no drips.

I think the uniseal might be cut when installing it on the sharp acrylic.

rich

 

[newsalt]

All the silicone I globbed on finally work. No drips in 2 days.