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Fixing warped PVC fittings

Fixing warped PVC fittings is something you may need to do if you plan on recycling or reusing them. There are a lot of how to reuse PVC fitting articles on the internet. But no one talks about what you need to do if you overheat a fitting and warp it. Can you save a warped fitting? Can you reuse a warped fitting? You can bring that warped fitting back to round. This article is about what you need to do to get that fitting back to near manufacturer round again.

Why it needed to be done

I recently had to replumb my pool pump water lines. A new pump motor’s physical dimensions required the change. That dimensional change put it in direct contact with the sand filter. So I needed to cut the lines and replumb to get the new motor away from the sand filter. I wanted to reuse the fittings as they are the most expensive pieces to replace.

Fixing Warped PVC fittings cut pipe short

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Fixing Warped PVC fittings needle nose pliers in soft fitting

While heating the fittings to release the pipe, one fitting required more heat until it finally released reluctantly. Its temperature was way above the normal release temperature and the fitting deformed as it released the old pipe.

Warped fitting Pointed Out

So how do you reshape a fitting that has warped? Reshaping a warped fitting is extremely easy to do if you have the right tool available while you are removing the old pipe. Here’s how to create it.

What you are trying to achieve

You will be creating a tool that will bring the warped fitting back to its original(or very near) round dimensions. The tool you create will slip into the softened PVC fitting and mimic the original mold that created the fitting when it was manufactured. This tool is best created using a heat gun but you can use an open flame process from my Reusing PVC fittings post. But I must mention that you will have better temperature control using a heat gun.

Safety first

Wear safety eye protection.
Wear leather gloves you will be handling a very hot fitting.
Burning PVC glue is not a good thing to be breathing so wear a proper respirator while heating the old PVC pipe.
Make sure that there is plenty of ventilation during the heating process.
Make sure that there are no combustibles near the area where the PVC pipe will be heated or use a heat barrier mat.
Have a fire extinguisher handy nearby.

Short pipe and new fitting

How to reshape a warped fitting

Materials needed

1. 1. Eight to twelve-inch lengths of PVC pipe in the sizes you will be working on.
  2. New PVC fittings(coupling fittings work best) in the sizes you will be working on.

Tools required

A pocket knife or a drill burr(also a die grinder or corded drill motor for the burr)

A heat gun(optional)
A spray bottle(optional) full of water
A permanent marker

How to create the tool

Cut a short length of pipe(8-12″ long) for each size pipe that you will be using for your project.
Clean the cut end and remove any burrs from both ends of the pipe.
Heat one end(apply the heat to the inside of the pipe) of the short piece of pipe until it is soft.
Insert the pipe into the new PVC fitting until it bottoms out.
Leave the pipe in the fitting until it cools enough to retain its shape or spray with water to speed up the cooling process.
Remove it from the fitting and label the newly tapered end of the pipe a tool with the permanent marker. It is now a useful fitting rounding tool.
Repeat this process for any other pipe sizes you will be working on.

Working with the fitting rounding tool

Have it close by as you are heating the old pipe for removal from a fitting.
As you are removing the old pipe and you notice or suspect the fitting starting to deform(becoming oval, no longer round) allow it to cool.
Remove the old glue residue(the large pieces only, use a pocket knife or a drill burr remover) before trying to reshape the fitting.
Heat the outside surface of the fitting(not a typo, the outside).
When the fitting becomes flexible once again grab the fitting rounding tool and quickly insert it into the fitting as far as it will go.
Push and squeeze the outside of the soft fitting against the fitting rounding tool to help the fitting return to round.
Leave the fitting rounding tool in the fitting until it has cooled down enough that it can no longer change shape or spray with water to speed up the cooling process.
Remove the fitting rounding tool from the fitting.
Visually verify that the fitting is round by placing the other end(end not modified) of the fitting rounding tool into the newly formed fitting.

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Clean the inside of the fitting with PVC primer.
Use a medium PVC cement when gluing this fitting to your new pipe for the best results. It is much thicker than ordinary PVC glue and will ensure that the new pipe and old fitting will develop a good seal.

Why use Medium PVC Cement?

Regular Bodied
This is an excellent cement for pipe and fittings up to 3” in diameter where gaps between pipe and fitting is snug. Check the dry fit, some resistance should be felt as you insert the pipe in to the fitting. Very cost effective and the most popular. If there is any doubt regarding the snugness of the pipe and fitting use a Medium or Heavy Bodied cement.
Medium Bodied
This cement is designed for pipes and fittings between 3” and 6” in diameter. (Always follow the manufacturers’ recommendations). If no resistance is felt as you insert the pipe in to the fitting, we recommend that a second coat of cement should be applied.
What are the most commonly used cements? https://www.e-zweld.com/faq/

What caused the fitting to warp

The warped fitting was not vertical while it was being heated. A three-way valve was still attached to the other end of the fitting. This valve could not be moved as it was still attached to the plumbing. Heat rises. The lower part of the fitting did not get as hot as the top half of the fitting. If possible, make sure the pipe is vertical while using a flame to heat it. The heat will distribute evenly around the entire pipe circumference. If you can not heat your fitting vertically make sure you have a “fitting rounding tool”. It’s handy for fixing warped PVC fittings.

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Author
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RayC.

Editor at Mybusyretiredlife.com

Trained in the mechanical arts. I have worked on anything dealing with a home from changing a light bulb to moving a load bearing wall. As for the recipes, they came about after I could not find what I was looking for and recipes that over a lifetime I have come to love and want to share with the world.