Bulkhead questions

[Gerryd]

Hey all,

A couple of questions about the pvc pipe INSIDE the weirs and the bulkheads that go through the bottom of the tank.

It has been a long time since I touched them and forgot

1. Is there a SEPARATE piece of pipe on EITHER side of the bulkhead? I seem to remember that there are two pieces but am now unsure.

2. Will I harm the bulkhead fitting if I carefully/slowly remove the TOP section? Should I replace them anyway? They are original since 2002.

I want to replace most of the length with 2" pipe. Is currently 1". So the original pipe would remain but much shortened and then the larger pipe on top so to speak.

I figure that I can remove the top pvc pipe, replace with a capped section while I do the swap even though the bottom will remain hooked up and will not leak.

Then cut the pipe down and affix the 2" section/adaptor and then replace again.

I will then do the same UNDER the tank and increase to 2" where I can.

All of this to increase the volume of water to the pump.

Am I missing anything? Does it depend on the mfg of the tank? Or the whim of the builder at the time?

Sorry if these are too simple to ask.......

Much thanks in advance as always.....

 

[JDowns]

The bulkhead itself should be two-piece. A nut on the dry side and the fitting itself. There will be a rubber washer on the inside. The bulkhead itself could be any combination of either threaded or slip, on the inside of both sides (dry and wet). If its threaded on the wet side then your standpipe should unscrew, the same on the dry side.

If its threaded on the wet side then you could unscrew the pvc pipe and replace with a temporary cap. If its a slip fitting then you will have to take the entire bulkhead off and cut the pipe if its been solvent welded. Odds are good its either a threaded or hasn't been solvent welded. I would never solvent weld a standpipe, since there is no need.

 

[rthomas]

The bulkhead itself should be two-piece. A nut on the dry side and the fitting itself. There will be a rubber washer on the inside. The bulkhead itself could be any combination of either threaded or slip, on the inside of both sides (dry and wet). If its threaded on the wet side then your standpipe should unscrew, the same on the dry side.

If its threaded on the wet side then you could unscrew the pvc pipe and replace with a temporary cap. If its a slip fitting then you will have to take the entire bulkhead off and cut the pipe if its been solvent welded. Odds are good its either a threaded or hasn't been solvent welded. I would never solvent weld a standpipe, since there is no need.

You mean, it is enough to just use Teflon tape instead of PVC glue to fix bulkhead to our tank (for the purpose of stand pipe) ?

 

[JDowns]

For your standpipe inside of a weir you shouldn't need any tape or solvent welding. The only place the pvc standpipe can leak is into itself. Now if its threaded on the dry side I would certainly use tape on that side of the bulkhead.

For the bulkhead itself you only need the rubber washer that came with the bulkhead.

 

[shoggoth43]

You may still not get the performance you are looking for as you still have the 1" bulkhead fitting and restriction. You might see a little improvement, but I wouldn't bet on a huge increase in flow. What it might do is reduce the turbulence right at the pump intake though which might help a bit.

-
S