Have bulkhead washers ever come loose on you?

[Len]

This is a first for me. Today, I see the tank's sump level has dropped by about a gallon. I look around to see the probable cause, and sure enough, the overflow drain bulkhead around the area of the washer was leaking pretty badly! I was worried the plastic had somehow cracked or something more severe has happened. But I decided to try the obvious first a tighten down the washer. Sure enough, it was loose by about a quarter to half turn. After tightening, the water has (so far) stopped leaking.

So the question is: Is this common? In all my years, I've never had a bulkhead washer come even slightly loose and begin to leak. It's disconcerting to say the least. Is it something I did wrong?

 

[ChrisRD]

Can't say I've ever had it happen to me. Maybe you just didn't tighten it down enough during the initial install? If that were the case, however, it's a bit weird that it didn't leak until now...

 

[Anonymous]

If you overtighten it during installation, it will suddenly "give" and spawn a leak like it did.

 

[ChrisRD]

I suppose that makes sense if overtightening caused it to jump a thread or something...

Did the leak cause any water damage to anything Len?

 

[Len]

The leak didnt' cause any damage that I can see (maybe some water behind the stand where I can't access). Fortunately, the water leaked into the sump below it. There was A LOT of salt screep on the piping.

I may have overtightened during installation, but i recall it was too loose when I first tightened it so I had to tighten it down some more to make a proper seal. I've retightened the washer down today and there's no more leaks. I wonder how long I have before another leak.

 

[Anonymous]

I've never had that happen.

I think 7 is right. You probably overtightened it.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

It didn't cause any damage because there is NO tank.......

 

[Anonymous]

Just to rule out the simplest explanation...

Anyone, perhaps a younger relative, been over to the house recently? Someone who might have looked at all the fittings and been curious enough to try turning one?

 

[Anonymous]

Or some member of RDO who are upset about the lack of photo in say tank?... :wink:

 

[Len]

:lol: No young'ins around. Besides, the bulkhead is in a pretty hard to reach area.

As of this morning, still no leaks. What a difference a quarter turn on the washer makes.

I'm still not sure why an overtightened washer would spring open or why it took almost a year for it to happen.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the threads just gave way. I've had bulkheads "pop" like that before. Always on the cheaper ones though, never on any schedule 80, just mainly the el cheapo white/black ones.

 

[Len]

Is there a removable "loctite" type product to keep the washers in place? Been consider a dab of silicone or even a tiny dab of super glue in a couple spots, but not sure how much good that would do.

Yes, this is the cheaper black thin type.

 

[Anonymous]

The cheap nylon one is famous for that. So lets set up a web cam and see who can "predict" when an overtightened nylon bulkhead nut going to give way, and the winner will have a tour of Len's tank (hopefully you are ready to show your tank when it pops).

 

[Anonymous]

Is there a removable "loctite" type product to keep the washers in place? Been consider a dab of silicone or even a tiny dab of super glue in a couple spots, but not sure how much good that would do.

Yes, this is the cheaper black thin type.

Super Glue Works for me :lol: SHoot, I've plugged leaky tanks with it even :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

The cheap nylon one is famous for that. So lets set up a web cam and see who can "predict" when an overtightened nylon bulkhead nut going to give way, and the winner will have a tour of Len's tank (hopefully you are ready to show your tank when it pops).

Now that sounds like a plan. I've got the bulkheads, anyone got a web cam we can use, and some hosting space :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Is there a removable "loctite" type product to keep the washers in place? Been consider a dab of silicone or even a tiny dab of super glue in a couple spots, but not sure how much good that would do.

Yes, this is the cheaper black thin type.

You can use PVC cement, but that pretty much make the bulkhead not removeable unless you use a hacksaw to it.

 

[Len]

I want it removable, so I think just a few dabs of superglue in between the threads will hold it in place until i have to take it off which a wrench.

 

[ChrisRD]

I use some silicone whenever installing bulkheads. I put a bead around the inside flange and a bead on the outside as well. Probably overkill, but I'm a bit of a redundancy freak.

 

[SnowManSnow]

happend to me recently in my overflow. Was a bugger to get into and tighten.. got it tight though and haven't had a problem ever since Maybe it was the evil glasscages tank! yea thats what it was!!!

B

 

[TheJGMProject]

I know I'm a newbie, but teflon tape works wonders for threaded connections. I used teflon for my sprinkler system in the back yard which was pretty much constructed with PVC piping and PVC connections. Go around the threads 3 to 5 times and that should "seal" the deal. For extra sealant measures, I would also put silicone on the backs of the washer and head (so silicone doesn't allow washer to move, and water can't get under the washer). If you ever need to take off the bulkhead in the future you'd be able to slice the silicone peel it off the tank.

I'm planning on putting a bulk head on my 40-gal. Can you get overflow drain bulk heads at local hardware stores? Or do you need to get special ones?