Most of my sprinkler system is old school with thin-wall black hose with PVC barb fittings. One PVC tee with 1/2 pipe thread for a riser to a sprinkler head is chipped badly at the threads. Barb ends are fine, and I can thread a 1/2 PVC riser in just fine. Problem is, when I turn things on it leaks badly at the threaded connection. This fitting is in a horrible place with another line crossing over it, roots etc. I would REALLY rather not replace it. It would be a three or four hour job, maybe more. I'd like to glue it / repair it. Ideas?
Can't you just use a heat gun to warm the black pipe and swap the fitting. Years ago our pool pipes were the same bits...I used a torch but that was always a little touchy. Heat gun would be perfect... I think JB weld might work on the existing piece but it's hit or miss... you'll be doing it one day so why not be one and done...
Just replace the t. Your local big box store should have one for a dollar or two. Cut the clamps and wiggle it out, put new clamps on and wiggle back together. 5 minute fix. Dig the hole large enough for a good bit of wiggle room and the poly pipe will flex enough. I installed professionally for 3 years. Josh
Josh, I agree with your suggestion, but the problem is some dumas ran two parrallel pipes touching each other, the second being beneath and next to the damaged one. Then the lower one rises up and crosses over the other right where I am working. Downright professional. So for a swap I would have to dig maybe four feet in both directions, and I could have to cut the other line while I am at it. JB weld or just man up and do it right?
Was working on some PVC pipe years ago. Put on cleaner. Wife asked "what is that?" Told her ya gotta use it, especially if glueing old pipes. She said "oh-- my dad never uses that -- maybe that's why his stuff always leaks."
Gonna try Jb weld; if it fails, just gonna bite the bullet and do what Josh suggested. Just trying to avoid a major job for what seems like a minor issue, eh?
Why such a big pit? A hole the size of a 5 gallon pail around is all that should be needed. Unless I am misunderstanding the type of irrigation system you have. Black 1 poly is pretty flexible and easy to work with, just dont kink it. They also make splice pieces with barbs on both ends, you can cut on one side or both replace what you need and clamp everything down. Generally we only used those when we linked the pipe. Good luck Josh
Sorry missed your original reply. Sounds like they did a double pull which is common. Is the second line with it a main line or zone line? You could cut the second line and reroute it underneath with a splice piece, or dig a slightly larger hole if needed. We had a small garden shovel we would use sometimes if we needed a little more wiggle room. It fits in the hoe and we would dig right around the pipe 4 or 5 inches in either direction so the pipe had more wiggle. Cut the clamps and the fitting up and down to work it out. Didn't need too much wiggle just enough to get the barbs out on one side. The barbs extend 2 inches or so on each side. Josh
Was working on some PVC pipe years ago. Put on cleaner. Wife asked "what is that?" PRIMER. I was working with a new kid at the generating station. We were doing a 4 inch PVC (gray stuff) line with about 2 20 foot sections. I had to go make a call so I told the kid to make sure he gets the pipes primed. Yeah... he painted the entire pipe purple. "I didnt want it to rust". Hmmm... ws
Josh -- I wussed out and started fixing all the easy stuff first. A lot of them after 10 years of disuse. Went to the hardware store -- safely empty, unlike home depot -- to find sprinkler parts. In the back rummaging. Owner peaks around the corner with a mask on. him: "Hey, you need any help?" me: "No, I'm good." him: "Fantastic!", laughing and starting to walk away. me: "So that's what passes for customer service nowadays?". him: " Just trying to keep my customers alive." Good man.
Hopefully you were able to get what you needed. From what it sounds like you should have 1" poly, so I would have gotten a splice with a fitting and maybe a plain splice or two and hose or crimp clamps.
If I were closer I would come and do it for a beer and a new buick friend. I promise it should be easier than it appears.
Well, the sprinkler system conspired to force me to fix things the right way. After pressurizing numerous time as we tracked down missing heads, water started bubbling up about 2 feet from the damaged fitting in question. Turns out the pipe split at a nearby coupling, just beyond its hose clamp. Therefore dug out this direction and that and renewed a whole section as well as the offending fitting. Thanks for the advice anyway. Much appreciated.
When I purchased my current home, the lawns had a sprinkler system. But, like, I found holes in lines, sprinklers that were broken, connections that leaked. What a job repairing & replacing. Then I learned that the controller for the system & the shutoff valves all leaked and would not seal, and no available parts.. I had to design a manual manifold with ball valve shutoffs. It all works now and I can blow the lines in the fall.
