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Had to pick between a 3/8 and 1/2 inch gap for a boiler gasket on a big job in Philly.
The specs were vague, so I went with the 1/2 inch thinking it would seal better under pressure. It held for the test, but I'm second-guessing if the tighter fit would have been smarter long-term. What gap do you guys usually run for a high-pressure retrofit?
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nathan77528d ago
You said you went with the 1/2 inch for a better seal. I used to always go tighter, thought it was safer. Then I saw a 3/8 gasket blow on a cold start after a retrofit. The extra space in a 1/2 lets it flex without tearing. For high pressure, that give is what makes it last.
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ross.sean28d ago
Saw a tech bulletin from Parker Hannifin last year that basically said the same thing. They tested gasket failure rates under thermal cycling and the ones with more room to move lasted three times longer. Honestly it goes against everything they taught us in trade school about tight tolerances. Tbh I was stubborn about it too until I had to replace the same flange three times in a month. That extra flex space just handles the expansion and contraction way better.
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