Goop to Seal PVC threaded connectors?

[mpire]

So I am working on fixing my drainage and my sprinkler valves are exposed and I see a drip from one of the valves. They are threaded PVC connectors and I used Rectorseal T plus 2 on them just in case. Well, it appears that its leaking a drip every few minutes.

Granted its not super bad, but I don't really know how to go back and seal something that is leaking without cutting it out and replacing everything. Everything is sealed with glue except these connections to the valves.

I can't un-thread the valve, I will have to cut it off and replace it.

What do you recommend to seal the delivery side of the sprinkler valve?

 

[sixty4]

http://www.jbweld.com/products/plasticweld-epoxy-putty

 

[rlitman]

Why can't you unthread the valve? They do need occasional replacement you know?
You should have enough room on your manifold between valves to handle this eventuality.

 

[C96]

My experience with treaded PVC joints is they always eventually leak. I’ve used plumbers teflon tape, the ****** seal..Lol etc. but eventually at some point the dripping starts. Not sure why, expansion/contraction maybe, I don’t know.

I now avoid that type connection at all cost and only use the slip in glue fittings. If there’s no other option I glue the damn threaded fittings together with the Christy's Red Hot Blue Glue.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Why can't you unthread the valve? They do need occasional replacement you know?
You should have enough room on your manifold between valves to handle this eventuality.

If it's like most irrigation sprinkler systems I've seen, it was probably was installed without unions.

I'd buy 2 unions and 2 adapters, cut the valve out and reinstall it with unions. If the valve is leaking on the outlet side it's bad anyway...

Tommy

 

[mpire]

It's a tight fit to get 4 valves in the valve box. So they are pretty close together.

 

[My Old Tools]

Plast-Aid Acrylic and PVC Repair Kit
This stuff works.....

 

[Piper27]

A drop every few minutes...I don't think I'd even worry about it. If you're on well water it will probably seal itself in time with the minerals in the water. Whenever I screw pvc into plastic or fiberglass I use teflon tape coated with a very thin coating of rectorseal.

 

[bob15]

Use more teflon tape. I used to build tobacco sprayer that use PVC pipe threads and they would not leak if you have enough tape or pipe dope and they are tight enough.

 

[rlitman]

Use -better- teflon tape. Use the pink stuff. It's much thicker to begin with.

 

[404]

The wax from toilet flange gaskets. The alcohol in rector seal attacks the plastic pipe.

 

[premierplayer]

It's a tight fit to get 4 valves in the valve box. So they are pretty close together.

so you've got it all opened up now like the picture?
if so, cut the latteral side loose, remove the valve bonnet, and unscrew the valve body from the manifold, clean and dry male and female thread ends inspect for cracks in the valve body, use 100% clear silicone as a thread sealant, let things cure before turning the water back on

If you have several valves in that manifold driping (5? in the pic) I would re do the manifold with new SxS valves.
New 1" RainBird 100DV = $11 - $12 each, maybe $20 for all the pipe and fittings

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . since you're in Florida with no freeze worries, you can pretty much design your setup however you want !!

I'd put in unions on both sides of the whole valve assembly so that whole thing could come out if you wanted to work on any valve.

Also, since no freeze risk, I'd build custom cover from decking material and not even mess with the little green sprinkler boxes.

I've only used teflon tape for connections and have had good luck.

 

[Techie1961]

Get some hemp at a plumbing supply. Use it with some sort of plastic safe dope. Hemp will expand more if there is a leak and stop the leak. Great stuff.

 

[toplessHO]

wont fix your problem but I use a cyclotronic valve and eliminate all the wiring and solenoid valves

 

[C96]

Get some hemp at a plumbing supply. Use it with some sort of plastic safe dope.

Lol, Hemp and Dope to fix a pipe. Poor guy will be completely fucked up before the job is completed!

Didn’t know you could buy theses drugs at a plumbing supply now days

 

[mpire]

Its all opened up because the cable guys destroyed the whole valve setup when they came in to bury the new cable wire. Its quite a mess. I still have to figure out the drainage issue. This pit fills with water every time it rains. I just need to get it all fixed up before the next downpour.

 

[sixty4]

http://www.jbweld.com/products/plasticweld-epoxy-putty

Without a doubt the easiest and best fix without redoing the entire mess. Use some of that gravel and pick up one of these as well.
http://www.sprinklersupplystore.com...gdftrk=gdfV22401_a_7c1441_a_7c8620_a_7cVBJMBB

 

[Scott r c]

Wow. So much mis-information here. Just ask an expert.

 

[My Old Tools]

French drain will fix your drainage problem.

 

[NotSwedishChef]

avoid using teflon tape on PVC threads....you can easily overtighten. Old School trick that most mfgr. and plumbers shy away from these days. Loctite makes a PVC thread sealant as does weld-on, etc. Soft curing for the easy dissassemby of said threaded connection and makes it watertight. Many of the pipe dopes contain chemicals that breakdown PVC/ ABS or time....use the right product and you're good to go.

Your slow drip can be from a small crack already if it was over-tightened on install or "repair". I've seen small drips amount to serious water cost over a season in muni. & commercial water systems....tackle it while it's small.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The small drip is only small because the system is off...

Tommy