How to Stop Dresser Couplings From Floating

Dresser manufactures a variety of couplings for water, wastewater and industrial pipes. The company, which touts itself as "one of the world's leading providers of innovative, reliable and affordable equipment and services for mission-critical applications in global energy infrastructure," makes numbered couplings that range in diameter from less than 1 inch to more than 400 inches. One problem with couplings is that, over time, they can deteriorate and shift -- or "float" -- which can cause leakage at the piping connections. There are several ways to approach this problem.

Wrenches, industrial grade
Metal clamps, industrial grade
Stop rings

Instructions

- 1
  Tighten the coupling with an appropriately sized wrench to see if a tighter coupling eliminates any leak. Likewise, check to see if tightening will stop the coupling from floating.
- 2
  Install one or more clamps on the coupling to tighten it even more. If the leak stems from one particular side of the coupling, you may be able to clamp just that side to prevent floating. Otherwise, you may need to clamp two opposite sides, or even all four. You may need to use gaskets or sealant as part of the clamping process.
- 3
  Install a stop ring on one or both ends of the coupling as a further measure to prevent floating. This type of ring is designed to slip over the pipe and keep the coupling from sliding one way or the other.

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