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:

A pool pump housing with Flex Seal covering it. It has a large crack in it.

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 pool pump housing with Flex Seal covering it. It has a large crack in it.

A better look at the long crack.

The backside of the pool pump housing. The long crack is visible.

A look at the housing and crack from the other side.

The plastic identification symbol on the pool pump housing. It reads PP LGF30

The PP LGF30 identification symbol means the part is made of polypropylene with 30% long glass fiber reinforcement.

Black welding rod. The label says it is polypropylene with 20% glass fiber

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.

Using a die grinder to v-groove the crack.

V-grooving the crack.

Using a welding rod and nitrogen plastic welder to weld the crack.

Welding with the front with the polypropylene + 20% glass fiber rod.

Using a welding rod and nitrogen plastic welder to weld the crack.

Welding with the front with the polypropylene + 20% glass fiber rod.

Using a corner welding rod and nitrogen plastic welder to weld the crack on the backside.

Welding with the back with the R02-08 corner profile polypropylene rod.

The pool pump housing welded up with the Flex Seal removed.

The pool pump housing is all welded up, and the remaining Flex Seal has been removed.