The new 4 position pool valve I just installed has two ports facing different directions. The manufacturer provides a plug to be used to plug the unused port. The plug they provided does not fit snugly in the port. It wobbles around about 1/32" when I inserted it completely inside the port. At first I suspected an undersized plug. To determine if the plug diameter was smaller then it should be or if the port was too large, I inserted a 2" diameter PCV pipe. It went into the port approximately half way before it ran into resistance. I was unable to insert the pipe all the way. That indicated to me that the diameter of the port was right where it belonged and the plug diameter was less then it should have been..
A neighbor who was a plumber for 30 years before he retired, told me that the PVC cement would have sealed the space between the port wall and the plug. Based on what I know about how PVC cement works I disagree. I believe the PVC cement softens the surface of the pipe and the port which allows the two surfaces to melt together and seal the joint. It was not designed to fill in and seal the space between the port wall and a loose fitting plug or PVC pipe. I believe a snug interference fit is required to make a water tight joint.
Am I mistaken? Is PVC cement designed to fill in the gap between a loose fitting plug and the port wall. OR does it require a snug dry fit to properly seal the joint???
Bill
A neighbor who was a plumber for 30 years before he retired, told me that the PVC cement would have sealed the space between the port wall and the plug. Based on what I know about how PVC cement works I disagree. I believe the PVC cement softens the surface of the pipe and the port which allows the two surfaces to melt together and seal the joint. It was not designed to fill in and seal the space between the port wall and a loose fitting plug or PVC pipe. I believe a snug interference fit is required to make a water tight joint.
Am I mistaken? Is PVC cement designed to fill in the gap between a loose fitting plug and the port wall. OR does it require a snug dry fit to properly seal the joint???
Bill