well,it seems i need pvc assembly school. fortunately, i'm on an installation test run as i'll need to redo some of it when i get my new heater, pump and autopilot..meanwhile, some tips please.

here's what i've been doing with about 80% success (80 percent being how many joints don't leak, 20 that do!) small leaks, but still leaks.

my first mistake maybe? is i made an assumption that grey pvc is like white pvc..both being whatever 40 pipe..i am now thinking that given grey pvc is actually for electrical conduit rather than water, it doesn't have the fitting tolerance that white pvc does? 2 of my joints have slip on greys and both are leaking a bit so..that's my first guess..confirm anyone?

now,if only it were that simple i have a few white pvc joints with white pvc fittings that are leaking a bit too..here's what i did:

-cut pipe,filed any burrs down in and outside the pipe..they never were cut completely straight, but judging by the prior pool dudes my cuts were straighter than theirs, and theirs didn't leak!

-used the purple primer on both ends of the joint to be made.

-let it dry for a few minutes

-pretested fittings..made sure pipe went all the way to the "stop" in the slip on joint pieces. no problem.

-put pvc to pvc glue all the way around inside of the joint, making sure not to puddle..i would say all areas inside were wet from the glue , but a bit thinner in some spots then others. right away, put the pipe in..made sure it was down to the "stop" and gave it a few twists..let it dry for 15 minutes before running any pressure through the joints.

in hindsight after my white pipe leaks anyway, i'm wondering if i should have put glue on both ends of pipe? sealed the gap around the edge somehow? (with more pvc glue?) i note that the glue they used was not grey it appears as is the stuff i'm using (which is the same the pool guys are using now) and it appears like it filled the gaps all the way around where the pipe goes in on their fittings..mine didn't..should i have used enough to push out the ends?

i applied the pvc glue in proper operating temps.i've tried to seal with exterior waterproof silicone but where they leak,they seem to find another little hole to come through. i did all the pipes with the same method so i'm scratching my head on why it worked most times, but not all the time!

thanks for help in advance!!!!