Sprinkler System PVC Repair

BACKWOODS

While working at a good customer's home this weekend he asked me to take a look at his sprinkler system that was shooting water up in the air. turns out the main valve body cracked and needed to be replaced. I did the job but had a heck of a time since there was no slack room in the pipes to allow the coupling of the 1" PVC to go in. Between the house foundation and the split off to the zone valves was 18". The main valve was in the middle of this. Do any of you use the PVC Union in this situation? Any other tips are welcomed.
Thanks,
Steve

ChainsawCharlie

I use unions on every valve I install. Just makes it so much easier for repairs and maintenance.

swade

I second the unions.

You can also use a slip fix on the lateral line leaving the vavle, I would post a link but its my first post, (google PVC slip fix). I do not recomend them on the main line, I have witnessed too many leaking under constant pressure. On the lateral tho they work great.

If space does not allow for the slip fix to be used between the fitting and the valve you can cut that fitting out, pipe out from the valve to that intersection, install the T and slip fix from there.

Hard to describe but I hope you get the jist of it.

ChainsawCharlie

Slip fix:

http://www.sprinkler.com/buy/item/303

HD, Lowes, etc should stock them. If you need info to go along with the part, skip HD, Lowes, etc and go to an irrigation supply place.

North Star

If you don't like the slip fix idea you could always stub out a piece of pipe and cut back some on the line and use a knock on. That method is way harder than the slip fix but it is another way to get at what you are trying to accomplish.

Will Johnson

Good idea on the "slip fix". However, we ONLY use Kwik Repair, by Dawn industries (here's their coupler http:// www.sprinkler.com/buy/item/4371
http://www.dawnindustries.com/

The difference is Dawn uses a completely glued fitting, while slipfix has two o-rings. Under constant pressure, I go with the glued fitting.

The first slipfix allows lots more "play" in the repair, while dawn requires that the opening to be repaired be cut within closer tolerances.

North Star

I like the looks of that Kwik Repair. I am going to have to give one of those a try. But, for the sake of being argumentative, how can they market that as time saving? I fully see the material price difference but I don't see the time savings. If anything I would lean towards it being more time intensive due to the exact nature of your cut. With a slip fix you just have to cut it within an inch or so (give or take). Like I said I am not dogging the Kwik Repair but just playing devil's advocate.