Fitting -> submersible well pump, tape or dope?

I think I'm getting a bit paranoid now that I'm preparing what I need to prepare for. I have seen a couple of posts mentioning concerning torque and the tightness of PVC fittings attached to the head of the submersible pump.

VAWellDriller said:

I saw the bowls of a Goulds 25HP 150H series pump come unscrewed from rapid cycling....the 4" drop pipe did not though. It something like a 9 or 10 stage pump, and it was starting approximately every 20 seconds and running about 15 seconds......They had a waterlogged gallon Hydro tank, with no working air compressor. It just hammered itself apart, until it got so long, it pulled one of the splices apart. Luckily it didn't come all the way unscrewed.

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Valveman said:

Small pumps can come unscrewed as well. That is why I quit using threaded plastic couplings and switched to metal couplings. When you tighten PVC pipe into metal couplings without any Teflon or dope, it will pop 2 or 3 times when it is tight. It also has to pop a few times to get it unscrewed, which is why I believe it is less likely to come unscrewed from cycling.

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Pipe wrap and sealant for stainless fittings
First time well pumper - pressure issue
Schedule 80 deep well pump barb?
Submersible Pump Recommendation

Unanimously, everyone seems to recommend brass or stainless steel fittings, and that is what I have planned with my pump install. My previous pump was schedule 80 with PVC fittings and it was really tightened really well to the discharge head. It lasted 20 years without seemingly shifting even a little from the original thread position. Though, I'm not keen on testing my luck again given the quoted posts.

My new 1HP pump is like my old one, and has a nylon discharge head. I am planning to use 1 1/4 poly pipe 160 PSI with 1 1/4 stainless steel barb fittings.

I've watched various videos and most people seem to use only pipe dope/sealant on the barb fitting into the top of the submersible well pump. I was wondering is there a reason for this? Is this the recommendation to use dope instead of tape? How much do I have to worry about overtightening and breaking threads?

So after way more reading than I originally intended..... (There's seemingly an inexhaustible wealth of knowledge on this forum, which accounts for every corner case disaster, most that I never even considered were possibilities.)I think I'm getting a bit paranoid now that I'm preparing what I need to prepare for. I have seen a couple of posts mentioning concerning torque and the tightness of PVC fittings attached to the head of the submersible pump.Unanimously, everyone seems to recommend brass or stainless steel fittings, and that is what I have planned with my pump install. My previous pump was schedule 80 with PVC fittings and it was really tightened really well to the discharge head. It lasted 20 years without seemingly shifting even a little from the original thread position. Though, I'm not keen on testing my luck again given the quoted posts.My new 1HP pump is like my old one, and has a nylon discharge head. I am planning to use 1 1/4 poly pipe 160 PSI with 1 1/4 stainless steel barb fittings.I've watched various videos and most people seem to use only pipe dope/sealant on the barb fitting into the top of the submersible well pump. I was wondering is there a reason for this? Is this the recommendation to use dope instead of tape? How much do I have to worry about overtightening and breaking threads?

Re: Do you seal, or put teflon tape on your fuel pump fittings?

The member whose name is actually Art

67SATisfaction

OP

Joined:
Posts: 7,548
Albany, NY

The member whose name is actually ArtJoined:Posts: 7,548

Originally Posted By burdar

Huakai Anti-Corrosion Equipment supply professional and honest service.

Quote:

I get a persistent little drip of fuel from the brass nipple that screws into the fuel pump housing.

It seems like he's saying the fitting is leaking at the fuel pump....not the line/fitting connection. Isn't the fuel pump pipe thread? Pipe thread should seal itself shouldn't it? I wonder if the fitting has a small crack in it?

It seems like he's saying the fitting is leaking at the fuel pump....not the line/fitting connection. Isn't the fuel pump pipe thread? Pipe thread should seal itself shouldn't it? I wonder if the fitting has a small crack in it?

Yes. It's the brass fitting here:



The leak appears to be getting past the brass nipple's threads where it screws into the metal housing of the fuel pump.

But Thanks for your responses -

What I take away here is I can safely try using some standard parts-store sealant to try and stop this.
NOT teflon tape.

I'll be wearing a new cologne tonight!
- Art

Thanks for your responses -Yes. It's the brass fitting here:The leak appears to be getting past the brass nipple's threads where it screws into the metal housing of the fuel pump.But Thanks for your responses -What I take away here is I can safely try using some standard parts-store sealant to try and stop this.NOT teflon tape.I'll be wearing a new cologne tonight!- Art

Last edited by 67SATisfaction;

10:34 PM

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