When dealing with piping and plumbing, there is no room for error. It would help if you did what needed to be done without space for interpretation.
Ensure you follow the instructions as they are laid out, and you’ll never have an issue with your pipe joints. Here are some tips for installing pipe expansion joints to get you started.
How To Lubricate
It’s important to note that any time you have rubber flanges, you must not use petroleum as your lubricant, as it can break them down over time. In this case, for pipe expansion joints, ensure that you’re either using graphite with water or glycerin, as these are both acceptable lubricants for your pieces.
Make sure you’re lining and coating the pipe joints’ inner workings and threads, but not caking it on or dousing it with lubrication. If you do this correctly, it will fit tightly, and you will avoid the joints sticking together and any leakage that could occur in the future.
Inserting Your Joints
Check all your pieces first before assembling them. Ensure that you have them all and that they are in order according to how they should be assembled.
Once done, you may assemble them one at a time, starting with the joint pieces. When inserting them, ensure that they align correctly and that you’re threading them evenly to ensure a proper fit and finish. These are common mistakes people make when installing their expansion joints, so try not to sweat them too much.
Adding and Tightening Bolts
You’ll want to add bolts to your joints to secure them properly. Using bolts is a lot better than using nails or screws.
These bolts are for the ultimate security when using heavy equipment like piping, so they require heavy fasteners. Ensure you’re tightening them down well, not just when they feel snug. It’s also important to put only a little torque on them, too, as it could strip your bolt, leaving it in place permanently.
Safety Precautions Are a Must
If you’re using unanchored pipes or pipe joints, you will need something to secure them. Control rods are a great alternative for anchoring.
You’ll want to ensure that your pipes are always anchored somewhere in place as a safety protocol. Taking measures to ensure the safety of the equipment and of people working with and around this equipment should be a top concern.
These are just a few tips for installing pipe expansion joints to get them fitting and in place correctly the first time. It’s important to know matters like this so you don’t have leaks or emergencies that cannot wait.
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday sit side by side on the calendar, but they feel very different.
One is full of color, music, and celebration. The other is quiet, simple, and reflective.
Together, they form a powerful transition from feasting to fasting, from Carnival to Lent.
Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of February 17, 2026. The first day of fasting will likely fall on February 18. The month will end around March 19, 2026, depending on local moon sightings. These dates may be changed, depending on the country.
A red robin watches a Ramadan family prayer with warmth and wonder.
Ride into the rare Year of the Fire Horse with legends, dragon dances, lucky foods, and a fiery red robin salute to Lunar New Year. The Year of the Fire Horse is one of the most dramatic and culturally charged cycles in the Chinese zodiac. It appears only once every 60 years, and when it does, it ignites stories of passion, rebellion, creativity, and change.
From ancient legends to modern festivals filled with dragon dances and lanterns, the Fire Horse gallops through history
as a symbol of both risk and possibility.
Quick Fire Horse Snapshot:
Rare 60-year cycle • Fiery passion • Bold change • Artistic energy • A time to move, create, and transform.
Fire Horse-inspired lantern art at a Lunar New Year celebration.
As mid-February settles in, Presidents' Day arrives as a welcome pause in the winter season, a moment when
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leaders who shaped the nation. The holiday blends civic pride with the comfort of a long weekend, creating
a unique mix of celebration, education, and family time.
In 2026, the holiday on February 16th carries added significance as the nation enters its 250th anniversary year,
inspiring expanded programming, special exhibitions, and renewed interest in the country’s founding era.
From record spending to instant downloadable gifts for couples, pets, and families. For late shoppers, these ideas make a great solution for finding meaningful gifts.
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that total Valentine’s spending is expected to reach record levels, with average budgets per
person climbing close to the $200 mark. Consumers aren’t just buying for romantic
partners anymore; they’re also celebrating kids, pets, friends, and themselves.
At the same time, how people express love is changing. Instead of defaulting to last‑minute
flowers and generic chocolates, many are looking for gifts that feel personal, meaningful,
and easy to deliver, especially when they’ve left things a little late. That’s where
downloadable, print‑at‑home, and digital gifts step into the spotlight.
