#1 Don't install bulkheads backwards (nut side inside the overflow)
#2 If your stand has a solid 3/4" ply top, drill the holes for the bulkheads/plumbing large enough to get the bulkheads out if you ever have to
#3 When you realize you have made mistakes #1 and 2 two weeks after setting the tank up - fix the mistakes then, DON'T wait 4 years to deal with it.
#4 If you have made mistakes 1-3, don't ever touch any of that plumbing in any way.
Suffice it to say I made mistakes #1-3 about 4 yrs ago, and I made mistake #4 sunday. Here's how it went;
I decided to replace my return pipes sunday so as to improve on how I had them set up. One side went smoothly. The other side was kind of stuck and I had to use some force to get the pipe unscrewed. Everything seemed fine yesterday.
Today I get up, Not feeling well anyway - sore throat, called in sick.....
After sleeping in a bit I get up and look at the tank. Terrible sinking feeling, I see a puddle coming out from the stand.
Well, the force needed to get that stuck pipe unscrewed seemed to have either broken the bulkhead, damaged the gasket, or otherwise caused it to start leaking. Enter mistake #1, had the nut been accessible from under the tank I could have just tightened it slightly and most likely fixed the drip. NO, the nut was inside and covered with 4 yrs of calcerous deposits - mistake #3
End result;
I (remember I don't feel good anyway.....) got to figure out how to cut out enough of the 3/4" stand top to get at the bulkhead, while being careful not to damage the tank. Then I got to cut the bulkhead out via dremel, while being careful not to damage the tank. Then new bulkhead was easy to install. Oh yea, I had to shut down the tank, remove all my plumbing, remove pumps, and lie on my back in a puddle under the stand to do all of this.
So, hopefully at least one person will read this and learn any of the rules stated above saving themselves the pleasure of having a day like I had today . If absolutely nothing else, maybe someone will get some amusement out of my ordeal
SOOO Remember bulkhead rules #1-4
jk
#2 If your stand has a solid 3/4" ply top, drill the holes for the bulkheads/plumbing large enough to get the bulkheads out if you ever have to
#3 When you realize you have made mistakes #1 and 2 two weeks after setting the tank up - fix the mistakes then, DON'T wait 4 years to deal with it.
#4 If you have made mistakes 1-3, don't ever touch any of that plumbing in any way.
Suffice it to say I made mistakes #1-3 about 4 yrs ago, and I made mistake #4 sunday. Here's how it went;
I decided to replace my return pipes sunday so as to improve on how I had them set up. One side went smoothly. The other side was kind of stuck and I had to use some force to get the pipe unscrewed. Everything seemed fine yesterday.
Today I get up, Not feeling well anyway - sore throat, called in sick.....
After sleeping in a bit I get up and look at the tank. Terrible sinking feeling, I see a puddle coming out from the stand.
Well, the force needed to get that stuck pipe unscrewed seemed to have either broken the bulkhead, damaged the gasket, or otherwise caused it to start leaking. Enter mistake #1, had the nut been accessible from under the tank I could have just tightened it slightly and most likely fixed the drip. NO, the nut was inside and covered with 4 yrs of calcerous deposits - mistake #3
End result;
I (remember I don't feel good anyway.....) got to figure out how to cut out enough of the 3/4" stand top to get at the bulkhead, while being careful not to damage the tank. Then I got to cut the bulkhead out via dremel, while being careful not to damage the tank. Then new bulkhead was easy to install. Oh yea, I had to shut down the tank, remove all my plumbing, remove pumps, and lie on my back in a puddle under the stand to do all of this.
So, hopefully at least one person will read this and learn any of the rules stated above saving themselves the pleasure of having a day like I had today . If absolutely nothing else, maybe someone will get some amusement out of my ordeal
SOOO Remember bulkhead rules #1-4
jk