I am attaching a large turbidity filter to my well water system. The filter supports a small ranch, and the amount of turbidity is what drives the large sizing.
I am suspicious that my plumbing installation is faulty, which is causing a drip leak at the filterhead. The leak appears to be coming out of a place which is sealed by an O-ring.
The plumbing entails a 2″ schedule 40 coming out of a concrete slab (from well), then 90 degree L which has brass fittings that connect to the filterhead. My suspicion is that the PVC, L and brass fittings are rigid and fixed, and may not be exactly fitted into the filterhead at the precise elevation. As such, the PVC/L/brass connectors might tilt the filterhead slightly. Then the tilted filterhead breaks the O-ring seal and a drip occurs.
Is there some way to build this assembly so there is flex? Or what other technique can I use to get that assembly-to-filterhead aligned perectly? The 2″ pvc provides no flex whatsoever. I think the overall assembly needs to have flex and not rely on perfect alignment, because the whole thing can shift over time.
I’d sure appreciate some feedback on this.
Thanks, Martin
Replies
Would Fernco sleeves give you the required flex?
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Add a fernco or two, or my favorite for farm use, a hunk of automobile radiator hose.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
if i get you right?, the joint that is leaking is between the filter head and body, this shouldn't have too much to do with how level the head is. The head may screw down, or just turn a bit and lock. If the o-ring pinches even a bit, or is damaged, or old it may leak, clean out the grooves it rests in and lube the whole thing up with vaseline, that will allow it to seat properly without getting hung up. Luck to you!
The leak is coming from the filterhead (valves and timer and bypass valve) assemblies, where it mates to the tank. The filterhead screws into the tank, and is sealed with an O-Ring.
The 2" pvc pipes come up vertically from the floor. Then there is an L. Then there is a brass connector which mates to the filterhead. So if the vertical pvc is set too high, then the filterhead is 'pushed' up (or down if too low). The filterhead will be cocked to one side or the other.
I think that a cocked filterhead might cause the O-Ring to fail to seal. But I cannot figure out how to assemble the plumbing so that the pvc is perfectly aligned with the filterhead. And I think it would be better anyway to make the whole thing flexible in case things move.
Appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
Do you screw the filter head to the tank or the tank to the filter head?I know on smaller filters it's often necessary to give the tank a final 1/8 turn or so with a wrench after getting it hand tight.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
The filterhead is screwed onto the tank. The directions are careful to explain about how to tighten very tightly - they just want you to snug it down - so that the filterhead is not cracked.
But the filterhead is large, the screw into the tank is (relatively) small, and the PVCs are rigid. I could be wrong, but I think that the misalignment could cause tipping of the filterhead and breaking of the seal.
I'm just having trouble figuring out how you screw the filterhead onto the tank if the filterhead is rigidly attached to the pipes.Or are you talking about the pressure tank, not the filter bowl?Is there a picture of this brand of filter online somewhere?
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
I think I've got'cha, but a pic might help, sounds like you want to replumb to allign things better, cut the pipe above the floor and adjust with a coupling, the further the L is from the filter the more flexible your connection can be, what about shiming the pump? Don't underestimate the value of a new o-ring and lube!
Oh, and BTW: Get yourself some spare O-rings. The rings flatten out after awhile and become harder to seal, plus they tend to stretch out and not fit right.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
Also it would not hurt to coat the o-ring with some plumbers grease..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Correct.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
And some grease on the threads or locking tabs is a good idea too.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith