CSV male threads

[estone]

I have a brass CSV(CSV1Z,1 1/4") and a brass tank T, 1", both with male threads. I have read never to thread female PVC to male brass.
I guess it makes sense because they are leaking and I am having a devil of a time getting them to seal. I've used teflon tape, maybe 5-6 wraps. Two of them are sealed and two leak. All the rest of the fittings are glued or PVC unions which are all sealing.

The reason I did this is I thought the PVC would be easier to work with and would seal fine.

What is your experience?

[estone]

Is it correct that you should not put female PVC to male brass?

If not, do you think I'm not getting enough tape on or not tightening it enough? I figured snug with a channel locks is correct?

I'm assuming the Tape is better than the paste? Or does the paste seal better?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[valveman]

The low lead brass that everyone is now forced to use is not nearly as good as the regular brass was. Sometimes there will be a hair line crack where the mold halves go together. If you thread in a 1" male fitting it will crack out where you can see it. When you thread over the 1 1/4" fitting it holds the crack together but, it still leaks. It may be the valve and not your fault. Thread a 1" metal fitting into the valve and see if you can see a crack.

[estone]

I should be more specific.

This is all brand new. The CSV is new and I was trying to thread a sch 80PVC union onto it. One side holds the other leaks.

Same with the tank T. I was threading a sch 80 union onto it. Both leak

Sounds like I should put a metal adapter on the CSV then thread a male PVC to the female metal fitting. I'm learning.

[speedbump]

I had this problem many years ago and won't use a female PVC anything on metal of any kind. They crack. Maybe not right away, but eventually the PVC will crack. Then all the Teflon Tape in the world willnot stop the leak. Use a Galvanized coupling instead and a Male PVC Adaptor. You will be happier.

bob...

[hj]

Screwing ANYTHING into a female PVC connection will expand it. The tighter the connection is made the more expansion that will occur. Eventurally the female connection will split. And any corrosion in the joint because of miniscule leakage will also overstress the female connection. Use a brass coupling or something similar to join a male metal connection to a male PVC adapter. And adding additional layers of Teflon tape only makes the problem worse.

[Mikey]

HJ is (as usual) correct. Here's a female PVC fitting (that had a male PVC fitting screwed into it) from my professionally-installed water softener that failed after a couple of years. The installer mentioned (as he was using his 18" wrenches on the fittings) that he never had a leak. Note that when the fitting failed, it took the pipe with it:



I always use Teflon tape plus some really gross blue thread sealant that winds up getting all over everything and tighten only to one oomph.

[estone]

Thanks for the advice.

Like an idiot I didn't realize that the CSV1Z has female threads too. So I took it all apart and used PVC male nipples to thread into the CSV.

I also replaced the unions on the brass T with galvanized ones.


Now my galvanized union won't seal! Leaking around the center threads.

Also having trouble getting one of the sch 80 PVC nipples to seal in the CSV.
I tightened them pretty tight with channel locks til they were tight. Maybe too tight? I maybe did two to three oomphs.

Dang it, I probably should of went copper to begin with!

[Mikey]

I doubt channel locks allow enough oomph.

When my well driller installed the galvanized union on the supply line, he used 24" wrenches and more oomphs than I could count. They don't leak, but I hope they never have to come apart.

For my PVC unions, I use some that join with an O-ring in the center to make the seal. No wrenching required -- just hand tighten.

[estone]

Used the pipe wrench and it worked! PVC unions fine.

Now one small drip on check valve. PVC nipple into Brass check valve. I'll have to try putting some of that blue valve sealant on it.

Thanks.


To those of you that suggested the CSV to me(Bob NH, valveman, etc.) That thing is awesome. Alot cheaper than the constant pressure system and will last longer I'm sure!

[Gary Slusser]

It sounds to me as if you don't have things aligned properly.

I guess I'm the odd guy... I have used sch 40 and 80 PVC and CPVC females for many installations on pressure tanks, jet pumps and water treatment equipment for 20 years. I had one customer cause a female to break the night after I left when he that evening plumbed to my line from his softener to install a utility sink. He pulled my 3/4" sch 40 line down about 1/2" to insert a tee about 2' away from it. He should have put the tee in the vertical that was closer to the sink but he said he dint want to kneel down to do it.... And when he saw his plumbing didn't match up without straining the line, he didn't want to change my part because he though it would be ok. The female broke about 3 am while his wife was still up doing laundry. And he blamed me... That's the only failure I know of. But then I follow instructions and don't use too much tape or over tighten fittings of any type. I notice that plastic females are bought everywhere so someone is doing it right or the word would get out to not buy them.

To break sch 80 PVC fittings you have to really crank on them. I don't know that I ever broke one. I only used 12" and 14" channel lock pliers to snug plastic fittings plus a half turn except for the metal male adapters under pressure tanks, then I used 24" pipe wrenches.

I think any water line galvanized should be outlawed, it screws up the water quality.

[hj]

Most of the blue thread sealants are not rated for PVC, or any plastic, pipes or fittings.

[Bill Arden]

I have some fittings where a female CPVC has a metal fitting going into it, but this fitting has a rubber washer so it's not the threads that makes the seal.

[Mikey]

Most of the blue thread sealants are not rated for PVC, or any plastic, pipes or fittings.

You had me worried for a minute . I use BLOCK, Hercules stock no. 15-707.

Spec sheet at http://www.herchem.com/specs/block.pdf.

Says " All purpose, high performance pipe joint and gasket sealing

compound for use on metals including Aluminum, Black Iron, Brass,
Copper, Stainless Steel, Galvanized Steel and on Plastics including

PVC and CPVC."

[estone]

I used galvanized unions only on the tank T since the PVC ones wouldn't seal(and sounds like it's not recommeded), the rest is PVC. The well is only for outside watering. We have city water for the house.

Hope the way I plumbed it will be o.k.?