My 13 year old Hayward Filter Assy blew up (my fault) and now I have a new Pentair Clean and Clear CC150. I have never dealt with the union connectors and I feel pretty stupid. I have looked it up and I have been told that you can use PVC in these connectors but are you supposed to use cement. I have all of the PVC cut to proper-lengths. I have it lined up where I think everything should be and it looks square on the angles and straight enough. It reminds me of a compression fitting I don't think it actually compresses so if I don't use cement will the PVC just blow at at full power. I just don't know if pressing the PVC in all the way is correct or is there something I am not getting.

Any help would be great Thanks......