Overheard a journeyman in Toledo call a 3/8-inch gap 'close enough' for a gasket

That's how you get a call back at 2 AM for a steam leak. Has anyone else had to fix a 'close enough' job from another crew?

2 comments

2 Comments

craig.grant17d ago

Heard about a buddy who had to redo a whole boiler feed line because the last guy said the flange alignment was "good enough." They used a crazy amount of gasket maker to try and bridge the gap. Lasted about a week before it blew out and sprayed 200-degree water everywhere. The cleanup alone took two days. That kind of "close enough" thinking costs more in the long run every single time.

black.jordan17d ago

A 3/8-inch gap? That's not close, that's a whole different area code. How do you even look at that and think it'll hold? It's just asking for a flood. Saw a valve once where the threads were so crossed they just taped over the whole mess. Lasted until the first real pressure test.