I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously,
a 3/4-inch metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping.
The PVC piping has a PVC male adapter, which fits into the
female threads of the metal valve. I am replacing the PVC
male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A lot of
torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC
male adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:22:00 -0700, "Elle"
wrote:

I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously,
a 3/4-inch metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping.
The PVC piping has a PVC male adapter, which fits into the
female threads of the metal valve. I am replacing the PVC
male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A lot of
torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC
male adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)


I use Teflon tape in this situation.

Elle writes:

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Tape, yes. Excessive torque, no.

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:17:59 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

Elle writes:

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Tape, yes. Excessive torque, no.

A fine line between torqued and a cracked PVC. :-)

"Elle" wrote in message
...
I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously,
a 3/4-inch metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping.
The PVC piping has a PVC male adapter, which fits into the
female threads of the metal valve. I am replacing the PVC
male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A lot of
torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC
male adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)

An alternative to teflon tape is also non-hardening thread sealant. It
helps act as a lube for pipe tightening. I used it to connect my 1.5" PVC
from my household pressure tank to metal valves controlling my in-house
supply. I got an extra couple of turns out of it using the sealant, which
cured a slow leak problem I had after my initial installation.

On Nov 30, 7:28 pm, "Mamba" wrote:
"Elle" wrote in message

...

I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously,
a 3/4-inch metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping.
The PVC piping has a PVC male adapter, which fits into the
female threads of the metal valve. I am replacing the PVC
male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A lot of
torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC
male adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)

An alternative to teflon tape is also non-hardening thread sealant. It
helps act as a lube for pipe tightening. I used it to connect my 1.5" PVC
from my household pressure tank to metal valves controlling my in-house
supply. I got an extra couple of turns out of it using the sealant, which
cured a slow leak problem I had after my initial installation.

Another well regarded sealant is Teflon pipe dope. Very slick and non
hardening. HTH

Joe

On Nov 30, 9:09 pm, Joe wrote:
On Nov 30, 7:28 pm, "Mamba" wrote:





"Elle" wrote in message

...

I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously,
a 3/4-inch metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping.
The PVC piping has a PVC male adapter, which fits into the
female threads of the metal valve. I am replacing the PVC
male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A lot of
torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC
male adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a
lot of torque until each PVC male adapter inserts at least
halfway into its metal valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)

An alternative to teflon tape is also non-hardening thread sealant. It
helps act as a lube for pipe tightening. I used it to connect my 1.5" PVC
from my household pressure tank to metal valves controlling my in-house
supply. I got an extra couple of turns out of it using the sealant, which
cured a slow leak problem I had after my initial installation.

Another well regarded sealant is Teflon pipe dope. Very slick and non
hardening. HTH

Joe- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Pipe dope is the best yes

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:22:00 -0700, Elle wrote:

I am re-plumbing part of my pool filter system. Previously, a 3/4-inch
metal valve was threaded to 3/4-inch PVC piping. The PVC piping has a
PVC male adapter, which fits into the female threads of the metal valve.
I am replacing the PVC male adapter but find it is a very tight fit. A
lot of torque would be necessary to get it into the previous depth.

I have a 1.25 inch metal valve connecting to a 1.25-inch PVC male
adapter with the same situation.

Do I just use teflon tape on the threads and then apply a lot of torque
until each PVC male adapter inserts at least halfway into its metal
valve?

Thank you in advance.

(Posted also to alt.home.lawn.garden.)

I'd be careful putting too much torque on anything PVC. Too much and you
could split something and then have to start all over.

I have been using teflon piping dope which does a nice job of sealing and
lubricates threads so things go together easier.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience Oren,
Richard, Mamba, Joe, Jim and Franz. It's raining here today,
so I am not doing more than a little measuring, cutting, and
gluing. I will try the teflon piping dope.

I have been learning the hard way that the key to a good
thread fit (with PVC) is not overtightening, so the
re-emphasis on this by several of you helps.

I will report back after the job. It's a little tricky
because I have to glue other joints before I can apply the
operating pressure to the two adapter-valve joints under
discussion. And as you all know, once glued... I may put in
unions to help ease the pain of a mess-up at the valve(s),
due to yours truly not being experienced enough in plumbing.

On Sat, 1 Dec 2007 13:15:31 -0700, "Elle"
wrote:

Thank you very much for sharing your experience Oren,
Richard, Mamba, Joe, Jim and Franz. It's raining here today,
so I am not doing more than a little measuring, cutting, and
gluing. I will try the teflon piping dope.

I have been learning the hard way that the key to a good
thread fit (with PVC) is not overtightening, so the
re-emphasis on this by several of you helps.

I will report back after the job. It's a little tricky
because I have to glue other joints before I can apply the
operating pressure to the two adapter-valve joints under
discussion. And as you all know, once glued... I may put in
unions to help ease the pain of a mess-up at the valve(s),
due to yours truly not being experienced enough in plumbing.


G I have a brass Resistant Pressure Vacuum Breaker similar to this
photo. Connecting the whole works was fun. I don't use the 1/4"
fittings ( could make misters for Summer) . With a brass T I have a
hose bib (ball valve) and the pool filler/water supply connected. PVC
to the pool from 3/4" too 1/2" on an elbow reduced.

I might change away from tape in my case. I live in the desert and
sealant might be better than tape.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/1/03834.jpg

Hi, an update:

I tried the teflon thread sealant with the old brass valves
and the new PVC fittings. I also tried the tape and
"cleaning" the valves' threads with a steel pipe fitting. A
real tap, from a tap and die set, is not convenient. No
luck; the joints leaked. Plus, I suspected the PVC-valve
joints I was hoping to leave alone, some eight years old,
would soon start leaking. So I replaced the valves.

I bought PVC ball valves, 3/4-inch and 1.25 inch to replace
the old brass, gate valves. I actually throttle one of the
valves to adjust the flow at times, so ball valves are
better for this. Generally though the valves' positions are
fixed for months at a time. Large diameter PVC ball valves
are often difficult to operate and so test the strength of
connecting joints, so I remain apprehensive about how well
this will work in a few years. Just recording these thoughts
for the archives.

Since the PVC pipe proceeds into the ground just a few
inches beneath each valve, I wanted to cut and cement as
little as possible off these ends. What "saved" me is a PVC
fitting called a "male compression adapter." It has male
threads on one end and a compression fitting at the other.
The 1.25 inch size adapter (mostly or entirely made by
Mueller B&K) was hard to come by, but I finally found a
couple of Ace Hardware stores that have them. Lowes and Home
Depot do not. I used teflon tape on the male threads.

All seems to be holding well; no leaks now. Plus the system
is quieter when the pump is on. Not sure why exactly that
is, but surely the joints were weak, or the metal of the old
valves loaned itself to facilitating air knock leakage
cavitation yada.

Lessons learned from reading and working with old and new
PVC fittings and brass valves: Partial replacement of old
PVC piping systems can grow into bigger jobs. Replace as
much as possible. I am sure cement joints are more reliable
and cheaper, but I wanted "forgiving" parts in this, one of
my first experiences re-piping with PVC. Also, I was trying
to avoid having to dig up PVC piping (about ten feet in
distance, maybe four feet deep, from pool filter system to
pool).

I am sure the experienced folks could have nailed this in a
few hours. I'm in it for the experience. :-)

Oren, noted that sealant may be better than tape in the
desert. I am in desert, too.

Thanks again all for sharing your insights.

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 15:27:51 -0700, "Elle"
wrote:

Oren, noted that sealant may be better than tape in the
desert. I am in desert, too.

Thanks again all for sharing your insights.

Oh, Yeah! What exit? (NJ joke)