Tremors cause leaks in tank plumbing

[duanes]

Small earthquakes and tremors are common in this neighborhood, and have created minor leaks in my overflow plumbing to the sump.
Because they are so regular, I don't always bother with tiny leaks, other than a bit of pedestrian patching with plumbers glue
But lately they've got to where the sump was losing 40 to 50 gallons over 24 hours into the garden, and no amount of patching would reduce the leakage.

I also expect that the previous bulkheads I useed were a bit wimpy, so I have now ordered what seems to be a more substantial, industrial grade pair.
Of course as luck would have it, the first ones ordered were the wrong size (the one below), too big to fit the already drilled holes in the tank.

The "supposedly" right size bulkheads have now arrived at my PO Box in Panama City, and will be brought to the island today, so in anticipation, the plumbing construction and cutting has begun.
I'm adding an extra Union connection this time, just in case future earthquakes do damage, so make any repair easier.

To be continued.......as progress is made.

 

[jjohnwm]

Are you actually beginning to cut and glue fittings together, based upon having been informed that some stuff you need is on its way? That's ballsy!

I don't live in a trackless tropical jungle miles from the nearest flush toilet, but I am so weary of getting The Wrong Thing delivered to me that I refuse to pick up a tool until every last bit and piece is sitting on the table right in front of me...for fear of using up The Right Things but still being unable to complete the project. At least that way, when I open the package to find The Wrong Thing in it...I have a chance to be able to alter my plans and cobble something together that works.

One other thing: You've shown pics of your tanks and sumps in the past, and it appears that all plumbing is rigidly glued PVC tubing? Have you considered using flexible tubing to connect the various bulkheads, pumps, etc. in your system to each other? When you assemble the whole thing rigidly, I would think that you have no "give" anywhere, and have a fairly brittle and fragile construct that doesn't handle earth tremors well. If the tank and the sump move at all with respect to each other, the rigid connection is stressed and cracks form. With flexible tubing, this concern would be largely or completely removed...I think?

Flexible tubing also makes it much easier to tweak or alter your system at any time...not that we DIY-ers ever do that, but...

 

[duanes]

I have tried flexible tubing, when I had smaller sumps, and found it just as problematic when it comes to earthquakes, especially where hoses were joined, but the bulk of the leakage now, is right at the bulkhead, so its not the rigid PVC that's my problem.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Yep that schedule 80 should solve your problems but if i remember correctly schedule 80 always needs a slightly larger hole size than their schedule 40 counterpart...i think 1.5" schedule 80s need 1/4" more than schedule 40. Hopefully the existing hole is accomodating enough as it is though.

 

[duanes]

The new bulkheads did arrive today, and appear to be perfect.
I like that these schedule 80s also add a cap to isolate the plumbing, just in case.

 

[Sassafras]

Looks like a significant upgrade! That bulkhead in the first picture is, well......just plain ugly. (No offence intended, when leaks happen ya do what ya gotta do.) You frequently mention earthquakes in your posts. I really never know that the Panama area was so seismically active.

 

[Flaring Afro]

I have tried flexible tubing, when I had smaller sumps, and found it just as problematic when it comes to earthquakes, especially where hoses were joined, but the bulk of the leakage now, is right at the bulkhead, so its not the rigid PVC that's my problem.

I'm not in an earthquake zone but prefer vinyl tubing because it makes the tank way quieter. It blocks any pump vibrations (and thus sound) from moving up the pipe.

Did you clamp the tubing around the barb? The vinyl tubing took a lot of force to get all the way on the barb for me, and with the clamps it's on there very solidly. Just make sure those clamps are above water level.

 

[duanes]

I'm not in an earthquake zone but prefer vinyl tubing because it makes the tank way quieter. It blocks any pump vibrations (and thus sound) from moving up the pipe.

Did you clamp the tubing around the barb? The vinyl tubing took a lot of force to get all the way on the barb for me, and with the clamps it's on there very solidly. Just make sure those clamps are above water level.

Yes, I was using metal hose clamps.

 

[Flaring Afro]

Yes, I was using metal hose clamps.

That's some intense quakes you're getting.

 

[duanes]

This is the aftermath of one of the quakes a few years back, at a house I was renting.
And below some of the street damage on the island.