Before you blame the seal, follow the pipe
I travelled to a carpet factory in Belgium to look at a sealing application. I followed the pipe connected to the seal to see where it went.
It was plugged onto a tap in the sink.
I couldn't believe it. All that way, and the seal wasn't piped correctly to the thermosyphon.
Before you choose your next move, know what you're up against. The seal is only part of the picture. Follow the evidence, including the pipework, rather than going straight to another replacement.
We replaced it with a bespoke cartridge design.
Solutions related to this article
If this failure mode sounds familiar, these are the products and services that usually fix it.
- Cartridge SealsPre assembled seal units that remove setting errors on pumps, mixers and agitators.View details
- Custom Seal SolutionsBespoke designs for obsolete OEM parts and equipment nothing off the shelf will fit.View details
- FFKM O-RingsPerfluoroelastomer O-rings for aggressive chemistry and temperatures to 325C.View details
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Founder and Mechanical Seal Specialist, Acumen Seals & Pumps
Published on 2026-10-15
45 years in engineering and 36 years in sealing. Andrew specifies, supplies and troubleshoots mechanical seals, FFKM elastomers and pump sealing systems for UK industry.
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