It’s very important to not skip steps when installing pipe gaskets. If someone asks you to make a BLT sandwich, you’re not going to leave out the bacon are you? That’s a critical step in creating the sandwich. So it’s important not to skip steps when installing pipe gaskets.
Sure, you could make an LT sandwich and still survive. But it sure isn’t going to taste the same. And when it comes to pipe gaskets, you could possibly forget to equalize the rubber on a wedge style profile for RCP and not encounter a problem.
But skip enough steps and the chances of having issues like breaking a bell or finding it nearly impossible to home the manhole or pipe sections increases.
Equalize All O-Ring & Profile Gaskets
O-Ring & profile gaskets can be equalized in a couple different ways.
- O-Ring gasket: Use a screwdriver or metal object underneath and go around 1.5 times
- Profile gasket: You could use the above method or the “pinch, pull and snap” method.
You might be asking yourself “Why do I have to equalize the gasket if I stretched it?”
What happens is the rubber bunches up on one side and thins out on the other. By snapping it and equalizing around the entire pipe, we create a consistent form of rubber.
Watch this video below to get a better feel for just how a 4G profile gasket should be installed.
Lubricant Is Your Best Friend
Lubricant is going to be your best friend when it comes to the O-Ring gasket. Lubricate the groove and bell, but don’t forget the bell lead in taper because it’s the first part of the pipe that comes in contact with the gasket.
Stretch the gasket on. After equalizing the gasket then apply lube to the face of gasket.
This reduces friction and allows the O-ring to move in the grove so as not to roll out and break the bell.
As for a Wedge gasket, lubricate the bell and entrance slope. Equalize the gasket then insert your pipe. Lube on the face of the gasket is optional; however, never put lubricant under the gasket especially on a single off set joint because the step it seats on is a only about a 1/4″. Doing this will cause the gasket to roll off the step and prevent from homing or worse yet, break the bell.