Slide repair joiners
These fittings use tapered sleeves, which slide onto the pipe and allow service technicians to perform a repair without the need to bend or flex any existing pipes. These joiners are available in sizes from 13 to 102 mm (0.5 to 4 in.) for proper fit to the existing pipe and fittings. They are ideal for repairing underground leaks in rigid pipe where there is no room to glue in a standard PVC coupler.
To use slide repair joiners, simply cut out the leaking section of pipe, then add glue to the joiner and extend the ends to ensure a permanent seal.
Repair glues and materials
There are many PVC, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and transitional glues available for making plumbing repairs; select the proper glue for the application. In addition to glue and primer, various repair materials are available. Some of the more popular materials include:
• Ground-up PVC: This material, when mixed with primer, forms a PVC paste for building up damaged fittings and other products.
• Liquid repair products: When poured into a hot tub, these blended concentrated materials sink to the lowest point to seek and seal minor leaks in a variety of materials. This product is good for sealing hairline cracks and holes up to 3.17 mm (0.125 in.) in diameter.
- Two-part compounds: These repair products comprise a liquid and powder compound. When combined they form a castable plastic that chemically fuses to PVC and ABS and cures in approximately 15 minutes.
- Two-part epoxy adhesives: These epoxies can be used to bond/repair a variety of materials. When using an adhesive dispensing system, the two-part epoxy can be easily applied to hard-to-reach areas.
John Duval is a technical service consultant with Central Spa & Pool Supply in Midland, Ont. He has been in the hot tub repair and technical service industry for more than eight years and is responsible for providing technical service for the company’s dealers. Duval can be reached via e-mail at jduval@centralspasupply.com.
