Trick to unions?

[mitchgo]

What do I need to look for to know I'm unscrewing a union already in the ground?

Oddly enough I say about 75% of the time I tighten the sucker at first before I realize I'm going the wrong way. Is there something I can look for on the union it self to see which way it goes.

Problem is .. there is a ton of different kind of unions and brands which are all different threads and styles ect ect..

[Dripit good]

Great question. It is hard to tell.

I assume most people are right handed, so my normal unscrew direction is usually my first move.

Never did make a mental note on how often this is true.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I guess im confused. Show me an example of a union that might be confusing or doesn't thread in the normal fashion. Can't recall running into too many unions in Dallas.
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[Mjtrole]

I always thought that only unions for gas goes the other way ?

[Kiril]

Originally Posted by mitchgo

What do I need to look for to know I'm unscrewing a union already in the ground?

Oddly enough I say about 75% of the time I tighten the sucker at first before I realize I'm going the wrong way. Is there something I can look for on the union it self to see which way it goes.

Problem is .. there is a ton of different kind of unions and brands which are all different threads and styles ect ect..

They may be different, but I have never seen a reverse threaded plumbing union that I can remember. So with that in mind, it is always counter clockwise to loosen as you look through the union from the female bell end.

[Wet_Boots]

Union nuts are not symmetrical, so why it can't be seen which end is which....

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Originally Posted by Wet_Boots

Union nuts are not symmetrical, so why it can't be seen which end is which....

image?......

[Dripit good]

Originally Posted by Wet_Boots

Union nuts are not symmetrical, so why it can't be seen which end is which....

The female connector on copper unions are symmetrical.

Unless you have a visual of both ends of the female connector I can see it being a guessing game.

[Wet_Boots]

No guess if you can see all sides - some copper unions have wrench flats on only one end

[Dripit good]

Originally Posted by mitchgo

What do I need to look for to know I'm unscrewing a union already in the ground?

In this situation it's not easy to see both ends.