PVC Plumbing Underwater?

Gary Ellis · Feb 14, 2020

I want to hard plumb my Clarisea underwater. Will the glue contaminate my water? I can't keep my sump down to long so I'm wondering if fresh glue will be bad? also will it be OK to have a union ball valve underwater?

lapin · Feb 14, 2020

Glue / Solvent needs dry surfaces to bond the pipes together. Liquid solvent will get in your water. Ball valves have metal parts.

crusso1993 · Feb 14, 2020

Gary Ellis said:
I want to hard plumb my Clarisea underwater. Will the glue contaminate my water? I can't keep my sump down to long so I'm wondering if fresh glue will be bad? also will it be OK to have a union ball valve underwater?

You should have no issues with taking your sump offline for enough time to hard plumb the PVC required to hard plumb your Clarisea. PVC cement hardens the joint enough to withstand water in 15 minutes and fully cures in 2 hours. As long as you do not go overboard with the PVC cleaner and cement. BTW - PVC union ball valves DO NOT have any metal in them.

lapin · Feb 14, 2020

crusso1993 said:
.... BTW - PVC union ball valves DO NOT have any metal in them.

Mine has a metal screw under the top cap to secure the handle. So there are brands that dont have this metal screw?

Gary Ellis · Feb 14, 2020

crusso1993 said:
You should have no issues with taking your sump offline for enough time to hard plumb the PVC required to hard plumb your Clarisea. PVC cement hardens the joint enough to withstand water in 15 minutes and fully cures in 2 hours. As long as you do not go overboard with the PVC cleaner and cement. BTW - PVC union ball valves DO NOT have any metal in them.

Thanks, I was just looking and see no metal parts for sure. So the union ball valve will be OK underwater. Right. I will glue and let it cure and then install it in the sump.

Gary Ellis · Feb 14, 2020

lapin said:
Mine has a metal screw under the top cap to secure the handle. So there are brands that dont have this metal screw?

Mine has no metal screw under cap.

ca1ore · Feb 14, 2020

Why do you need to glue the PVC that is underwater? A firm friction fit will keep the pipes and fitting together, and if they drip .... who cares if they’re under water.