SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Oh I meant regular off the shelf pvc from the big box stores. But it looks like the Kwik Slip adapters work with both types of PVC.

Being in Northern VA vib. trenchers are commonly used and preferred due to less mess/damage to existing grass. Of the professional installers I talked to its a pretty even split between using pvc and poly. Either way you have to winterize the lines.

Trenching depends on soil, for one thing. Vibratory trenchers are used in areas with workable soil.
I'm in Houston Tx and we have lovely dark, hard, sticky clay. It laughs at vibratory trenchers.

Pipe selection depends on region also. Hard freeze areas (Wisconsin, New York) use flex pipe. The ground temperatures there would make pvc brittle and it would break with any ground shift.

Here we use PVC. It's cheap. Ground freezing is a concept totally alien to us.

I don't have experience with snap/tap situations. I've been told by others on this forum that you use barbed 'T's for your installation and that saddle taps are for retrofit and repair.

What 'non-200' pvc are you referring to?

So, whats the most common method of connecting sprinkler heads to pvc pipe. Or let me back up, when using pvc, do most installers use a trencher (so the trench is open and you can easily move the pipe around) or a vibratory trencher (which, based on what your saying, would be harder to tap into). Seems like the vib. trencher makes more sense for the poly pipe.

In terms of tapping into the pipe these seem the way to go for poly: http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/Snap-Tap-Saddles-Poly-s/4913.htm

And for non-200 pvc seems like you would do a 't' off the pipe then use barbs and adapters to the sprinkler head. Or use these: http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/KwikSlip-PVC-to-Swing-Funny-Pipe-Y-s/196.htm


????

It starts with a shovel and lots of digging.
If your pipe is flexible enough, and the soil gives enough, and you dig back far enough each way, you can cut out a small section and with great effort flex the pipe into the tee.
If not you can use something like Pipe Fix or Kwik Repair.
Like many things in this industry, it starts and ends with the shovel.

I'm still learning so I apologize if this has been addressed before. If pvc is installed using a vibratory trencher, then the pipe is in place with earth on top of it. How would it be possible to cut the pvc, spread the pipe a couple inches to make room for the 't' since the pipe is in the ground???

I would not use a snap tee. Dig out a large enough area to work with and do it right with a regular tee. You'll never regret doing it right the first time.

Never, ever ignore a gut feeling.

Gator,

I don't know if i want to be the guinea pig or not, I'm still debating on what to do. My gut is telling me to use a regular tee fitting.

Thx

MrGrumpy,
Since we sell them I should tell you they work perfectly.
Truth is, don't know. We do sell plenty but I've never found someone who has used one.
I've done it here but that's at a desk/controlled conditions.
Solid as it can be though.

Looking for you to be our first report!

I meant to say extend a zone versus add a new one. Sorry!