We help people repair plastic
Polyvance is closed for the holiday. We will reopen Monday, December 30.
Information
Pool Pump Housing Repair
June 20, 2019 by Polyvance
Information listed below is accurate as of the date of blog publishing. Any pricing or part numbers referenced may be invalid in the future. Please contact Polyvance with any questions or concerns.
Pool Pump Housing Repair
A customer walked into our factory today with a pool pump housing that was cracked almost all the way around. He had unsuccessfully tried to use Flex Seal to fix it (surprise!)
The pump is an Intex SF70110 and the housing was made of polypropylene with 30% long glass fiber reinforcement (PP LGF30). Luckily, we have been experimenting lately with a 20% long glass fiber-filled PP welding rod that we thought would be a perfect test for this new material. After grinding off the Flex Seal, we used our Nitro Fuzer nitrogen plastic welder to fusion weld this glass fiber-filled rod to the housing. The compatibility was excellent and two materials fused together very well.
After the outer weld cooled, to finish the repair we welded our R02-08 corner profile polypropylene rod on the inside corner of the pump. Although this doesn't have glass fiber reinforcement, the fact that it welds to both surfaces of the inside corner will help to improve the strength of the repair.
The manufacturer does not sell replacement parts for this pump, so the customer's only alternative was to replace the entire thing for about $200. Plastic repair saves the customer money and the environment some trash!
Check out the process in the photos below:
The crack in the pool pump housing is very long. The housing is covered in Flex Seal from a failed repair, and will eventually need to be removed.
A better look at the long crack.
A look at the housing and crack from the other side.
The PP LGF30 identification symbol means the part is made of polypropylene with 30% long glass fiber reinforcement.
Luckily, we often do research into new welding rod and new products. We have been experimenting lately with a 20% long glass fiber-filled PP welding rod.
V-grooving the crack.
Welding with the front with the polypropylene + 20% glass fiber rod.
Welding with the front with the polypropylene + 20% glass fiber rod.
Welding with the back with the R02-08 corner profile polypropylene rod.
The pool pump housing is all welded up, and the remaining Flex Seal has been removed.
