Salt creep on plumbing fitting

[SoggyNW]

Some context for the photo. My sump is in the garage on the other side of the wall from my tank.

My kid threw a toy behind the tank. While retrieving the toy I noticed that a plumbing fitting was covered in salt creep. The fitting is a 90 on my main drain line where it turned to go through the wall into the sump. I don't feel any moisture anywhere and also there isn't any salt buildup anywhere else.

My though is that it is a very very small leak that never has the chance to drip, it slowly evaporates and leaves behind salt. Not sure how because I was careful to really get gobs of glue on but there it is.

I'm wondering if anyone else has any experience with this type of leak. Can a small leak like this expand or is it just what it is?

Edit: this plumbing was done about 9 months ago.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Moisture rises and when it dries the solids build up. If there is no visible drip I would discount ther being an actual leak.

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

I would clean the fitting to see if the leak is even still active. Look for the salt to build up again if it is.

 

[mdb_talon]

Moisture rises and when it dries the solids build up. If there is no visible drip I would discount ther being an actual leak.

That would not explain the massive salt buildup on the elbow starting at the top joint and yet everything else in vicinity being fine.

Also salt is not part of evap. While a very small bit may become part of the moisture it wont do anything like this.

 

[mdb_talon]

I think mydoghas fleas has the right approach. Looks like a small leak to me, but wipe down and see if still an issue and if so how big of one.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Wipe it. Clean it. Where the creep builds up or starts again is your weak point. Apply more pvc glue. After cleaning again obviously. Let dry. Crank it all up again.
Hths
D

 

[jcorndogg]

Are you sure it’s glued?

 

[SoggyNW]

I would clean the fitting to see if the leak is even still active. Look for the salt to build up again if it is.

Excellent idea, I'll try this first

Are you sure it’s glued?

I'm 92% sure that I didn't do something that stupid. But I'm going to double check. I can't think of a faster way to exit this hobby than to pump water directly into my wife's new floors.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Put a towel down when you apply more of the glue! Lol
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Put a towel down when you apply more of the glue! Lol
D

 

[zalick]

I've got a similar, albeit far less, issue on a joint that's around 5 yrs old. You are right on the money. You have a tiny "leak" that is just enough for moisture to penetrate through and cause the salt issue but small enough you don't see drips.

@monkeyCmonkeyDo suggestion should work fine.

I haven't bothered with mine. But maybe I'll do the same thing tomorrow.

 

[SoggyNW]

Put a towel down when you apply more of the glue! Lol
D

After the new floors went in I got a waterproof rug for under the tank. It already has a little glue on it. But nothing small will ever get the floor wet

 

[SoggyNW]

I decided to add glue on top of the original glue. It should reweld any small hole.

 

[pochaxoo]

From the picture you may notice the purple primer on the lower part of the elbow but not the upper one. The guys above have it right and is probably a very small leak. The primer actual softens the pvc so the glue adheses better and if you don’t twist there can be little channels for the water to get through. Good luck on the testing and patching