tips on plumbing

eastbay851

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2021
Messages
5
Reaction score
30
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
thought i d give a few tips on plumbing with pvc ... hard or soft.
1. For cheap bulkheads use pvc electrical conduit fittings. These are not tapered and are a fraction of the cost of typical bulkheads. Since they are not tapered they tighten all the way down. Find an appropriate sized washer and you have a perfectly good bulkhead which in my experience has lasted 20 years without a problem. Literally. That s literally to the over 35 crowd not the new definition of literally which seems to mean "enthusiastically".
2. When putting threaded pvc connections together USE TEFLON TAPE. Whoever has been spreading the rumor not to has got the delicacy of a sledgehammer when tightening. Also, add a thin film of lithium grease to the teflon tape and you will have no leaks. Now, remember, the grease will make tightening easier so this is where you have to be less macho and more sensitive.
3. Ball valves vs. Gate valves. Ball valves should be used for ON-OFF only. Gate valves are used to control flow. And here is an important tip: USE BALL VALVES EVERY TIME YOU USE A GATE VALVE. In this way you can turn off your flow with the ball valve but keep your adjustment on the gate valve.
4. Try to use Gate valves on vertical pipes and not horizontal. Horizontal orientation seems to allow for a build-up of crap in the grooves of the gate causing an incomplete shut off when desired. If you have to install in a horizontal position, put the moving gate on the bottom allowing some disturbance of accumulation when you move the gate.
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 37 52.9%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 37 52.9%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 15 21.4%
  • None.

    Votes: 17 24.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 6 8.6%
Back
Top