Had to do some plumbing repair. Added a 3/4" galvanized union and it appears to be leaking. Any ideas why it would leak?
IMG_20210712_121743794.jpg
Had to do some plumbing repair. Added a 3/4" galvanized union and it appears to be leaking. Any ideas why it would leak?
IMG_20210712_121743794.jpg
Assumption is the mother of all screw ups
Anonyms
The vibration from your jet pump is causing the leak in the union. Replace it with a Shark Bite slip fitting and it should stop.
Thanks Peter, that's an interesting fitting never heard of it.
Assumption is the mother of all screw ups
Anonyms
My guys say that Shark Bite fittings are approved for underground around here.
Still, did you put pipe Teflon on the union? If it's black threaded pipe, I use the paste.
Young enough to remember doing it;
Old enough to wish I could do it again.
Looks like you could actually even use a Sharkbite straight coupling fitting if you can move that short length of PEX. Any threaded fittings going into or nearby a jet pump should have both pipe dope and tape. The vibration from the pump will cause everything to start leaking over time otherwise. No threads and the ability to disassemble means Sharkbite fittings are ideal for this type of pump install.
Where is it leaking-at the union joint, or one of the threaded ends. I've use a lot of them, including for that use. If the union mating is leaking, back off a little, and retighten. If that doesn't fix it, replace it.
The PVC unions are one of the few things that are better now than they used to be. I have one on a jet pump, at an old house, that I connect, and disconnect fairly often, to take the pump away, and it's only hand tight without leaking.
With the brass fittings, why not use a brass union? The brass ones have good mating surfaces. I don't know that I have ever used a galvanized union.
Last edited by Tom M King; 07-12-2021 at 7:51 PM.
Is that the inlet or outlet of the pump? I'm assuming that's a check valve between the union and the pump.
Confidence: The feeling you experience before you fully understand the situation
I go to Lowes and Home Depot and pick up the fitting I want. I would put a sealant in the joint if necessary.
Easy first try is to loosen the union nut and clean the threads. Then apply light oil and retighten. You did not put any sealer on the union threads did you? that is a no no. Does it have brass seals inside the union joint? If not replace it.
Bill D
A union does not rely on sealant in the union threads to keep from leaking, it is a metal to metal seal. The big nut is just there to draw the two seats together. Any imperfection in the seat will cause a leak.
NOW you tell me...
I would just use your Sharkbite fittings as your union and get rid of everything on the right side. You probably aren't disconnecting the pump for years anyhow unless they fail regularly.