Help with Uniseals

[Fibbage3]

Hello,

I am installing an RDWC system using 2" Uniseals, 2" PVC, and 27L HDX totes.

I cut my holes in the totes using a 3" hole drill bit, but when I place the Uniseal inside the hole, it pops in fairly easily and is not very tight. Even when I insert the 2" PVC pipe into the Uniseal, it just slides right in with no reluctance. What am I missing/doing wrong?? All the videos on youtube show people struggling to get the PVC into the Uniseal, but mine slides in like butter.

Appreciate the help. Thanks

EDIT: gif of the PVC pipe attaching to Uniseal https://imgflip.com/gif/2p0pex

 

[Airwalker16]

Hello,

I am installing an RDWC system using 2" Uniseals, 2" PVC, and 27L HDX totes.

I cut my holes in the totes using a 3" hole drill bit, but when I place the Uniseal inside the hole, it pops in fairly easily and is not very tight. Even when I insert the 2" PVC pipe into the Uniseal, it just slides right in with no reluctance. What am I missing/doing wrong?? All the videos on youtube show people struggling to get the PVC into the Uniseal, but mine slides in like butter.

Appreciate the help. Thanks

Most likely youyour hole saws teeth were bent outwards. Cut the hole too big, and now it's loose.

 

[Fibbage3]

Most likely youyour hole saws teeth were bent outwards. Cut the hole too big, and now it's loose.

The bit is a brand new 3" Milwaukee hole saw... is there a specific kind that I need? One where the teeth are not bent outwards?

 

[Airwalker16]

The bit is a brand new 3" Milwaukee hole saw... is there a specific kind that I need? One where the teeth are not bent outwards?

Measure the distance from outside edge to outside edge and see if it's 3".

 

[Airwalker16]

Start at 1" so you're precise.

 

[Fibbage3]

Measure the distance from outside edge to outside edge and see if it's 3".

Here are the measurements.. still look off?

 

[Purpsmagurps]

I go a size smaller and sand open no barbs and complete seals no leaks after 6 months

 

[Fibbage3]

I go a size smaller and sand open no barbs and complete seals no leaks after 6 months

Hmm good idea... my fear is that the PVC slides into the Uniseal too easily as well, wondering if it's a defect?

 

[Purpsmagurps]

no that means you cut the hole too big

 

[5BY5LEC]

Return the UniSeal's and use bulkheads instead.

 

[Fibbage3]

Here is a GIF of it... https://imgflip.com/gif/2p0pex

 

[Fibbage3]

Return the UniSeal's and use bulkheads instead.

I couldn't find any bulkheads at local hardware stores. Any options online for purchase from Canada? I did search but Uniseals seemed to be the best option at the time of ordering (due to accessibility & cost)

 

[Fibbage3]

no that means you cut the hole too big

If you put the PVC pipe into the Uniseal without the Uniseal being attached to the tote, should it still slide in and out easily?

 

[inDC4now]

If you put the PVC pipe into the Uniseal without the Uniseal being attached to the tote, should it still slide in and out easily?

No, I don't think so. It is not something you want in the back of your head either, that you'll come home one night to a flood.

The bottom line is you are using a really thin tote. The uniseal may not seal. I wouldn't hesitate to abandon that tote, buy another, and choose another strategy mentioned like starting smaller and opening the hole gradually.

Be patient. You'll get it to work. I have stopped using unseals for these reasons. Now I use a bucket instead of a tote. The walls are thicker and straighter. I also "make my own" seals using PVC conduit parts intended for electrical installations. Still, I made the uniseals work leak free and for two grows.

 

[Airwalker16]

Here are the measurements.. still look off?

It does all look right... But you should NOT be able to slide in the pipe easily.

 

[Airwalker16]

No, I don't think so. It is not something you want in the back of your head either, that you'll come home one night to a flood.

The bottom line is you are using a really thin tote. The uniseal may not seal. I wouldn't hesitate to abandon that tote, buy another, and choose another strategy mentioned like starting smaller and opening the hole gradually.

Be patient. You'll get it to work. I have stopped using unseals for these reasons. Now I use a bucket instead of a tote. The walls are thicker and straighter. I also "make my own" seals using PVC conduit parts intended for electrical installations. Still, I made the uniseals work leak free and for two grows.

I'd love if you'd post a few pics and maybe some links to what you rigged up for bulkheads.

 

[5BY5LEC]

I'd love if you'd post a few pics and maybe some links to what you rigged up for bulkheads.

He is probably just talking about grey pvc conduit. I tried to use it once with the white plumbing style and I did not like the fit between fittings.
FWIW Sliding the pipe into the uniseals when I tried to use them was hard AF and that is understating it. Used lube. You should not be able to put them in the tote with a pipe in there.

 

[5BY5LEC]

I'd love if you'd post a few pics and maybe some links to what you rigged up for bulkheads.

What I was saying is that it is probably a grey male and female with a seal. Just guessing.

 

[inDC4now]

I'd love if you'd post a few pics and maybe some links to what you rigged up for bulkheads.

@5BY5LEC is correct, "a grey male and female with a seal," Here is a link to an article describing the "rigged up" fittings: http://www.truetex.com/bulkhead.htm

Bottom line for you, @Fibbage3 is that totes are really thin plastic and the walls are not 90 degrees to the bottoms. This means it can be tricky to get the hole sized properly when you drill and even more challenging to get the seal to seat when the hole is not perfectly round.

Part of the seal I think is the uniseal expanding against the tote when the pipe is pushed through. If you don't need lots of English and some water to lube the pipe through the uniseal you will have leaks. No reason not to try it out with a few gallons and see for yourself.

I would break down and buy one more tote and try again. You will get it. I switched to the "rigged fittings" just because the idea sounded interesting, not that I couldn't get uniseals to work. I switched from totes to buckets for the same reason, the idea sounded interesting. The buckets are smaller so I ran RDWC with less water in the system...

 

[Airwalker16]

@5BY5LEC is correct, "a grey male and female with a seal," Here is a link to an article describing the "rigged up" fittings: http://www.truetex.com/bulkhead.htm

Bottom line for you, @Fibbage3 is that totes are really thin plastic and the walls are not 90 degrees to the bottoms. This means it can be tricky to get the hole sized properly when you drill and even more challenging to get the seal to seat when the hole is not perfectly round.

Part of the seal I think is the uniseal expanding against the tote when the pipe is pushed through. If you don't need lots of English and some water to lube the pipe through the uniseal you will have leaks. No reason not to try it out with a few gallons and see for yourself.

I would break down and buy one more tote and try again. You will get it. I switched to the "rigged fittings" just because the idea sounded interesting, not that I couldn't get uniseals to work. I switched from totes to buckets for the same reason, the idea sounded interesting. The buckets are smaller so I ran RDWC with less water in the system...

If they had 2" I might've actually gave this a try.