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

Leaking threaded connections were the BANE of my irrigation install. There were several connections I had to do two or three times before they were leak free.

What I found to work best (but again, not consistantly) was to wrap 5 to 7 layers of teflon tape, and then "pre-set" the teflon tape by "screwing it into my fist". Basically, I would cover the palm of my hand with something (usually the front of the shirt I was wearing) and screwed the male threads wrapped with teflon into the hole in my fist. It sort of seems to help push the teflon into the threads before you actually screw the male/female threads together.

If I was making a connection between PVC and copper, I usually got better results using the pink tape.

Here ya go! Pictures ahead!

Quoted from "seansy59"

Yeah, I used teflon tape. It was a very loose plastic to copper fit. Really, the way I did it with those shallow threads, is why its leaking. Sometime this summer we'll get a "real" plumber to come in and put a line coming off of 1/2" copper main for the well pump.

more photos, please

Yeah, I used teflon tape. It was a very loose plastic to copper fit. Really, the way I did it with those shallow threads, is why its leaking. Sometime this summer we'll get a "real" plumber to come in and put a line coming off of 1/2" copper main for the well pump.

Did you use teflon tape on that fitting that leaks? I also have two slow drips. Always afraid to tighten too much.

Mitchgo: Thanks! Yeah, it was pretty hard. But 2 weekends is a good goal I set, I worked from early AM to late PM with worklights. I tried getting "head to head coverage", which was a success in the backlawn, but was impossible in the front. There are large oak and pine tree roots all over. I was going to put sprinklers on the outside perimeter all the way around, and put a row down the center of the lawn, but could'nt dig near the outside. So, I just centered a row down the middle the best I could. I might have to water it a few extra minutes, but....it works

Long story short: I had 2 sprinklers covering the whole front yard before, it was a simple garden hose connected to the faucet, and it was pretty green for that. Yes yes, sprinkler heads buried with garden hoses, no timer. It's long gone

though

I usually have to have everything "detailed" and "perfect" too. Or atleast I try. I was more worried about the boxes being level so the main line would'nt crack or break since its always pressurized. The second box manifold is a little crooked, but its watertight and strong that counts, not the way it looks underground.



wsommariva: Yes! It was alot of work, and alot of digging! But it will hopefully serve me well for many, many years. We can only get 3 heads per zone, since we have very poor pressure (only 45 psi) ( 5-GPM if were lucky) no joke!

2 weekends were my goal, and it was accomplished!

I recently did my own system so can appreciate the hard work you put in. Job looks very good to me. Valve boxes perfectly level with the dirt, trenches filled back in well. If you have dry spots then you can always add heads in the future. And congratulations on only a two weekend job.

Not too bad for a homeowner! Good job bud!

As a professional, of course I see many errors. As well as many things I wouldn't do how you did.

But overall for a homeowner you did a decent job

The biggest thing as far as the design goes I can see is that you don't have head to head coverage. With out head to head coverage you have poor uniformity, ultimately requiring you to use more water to irrigate the same area to keep it green through out the dry months.

A decent design is to have grass ( a single square foot) be covered by at least 3 sprinkler heads ( Head to head, back to back ). Sometimes this isn't always necessary given the microclimate, but it ensures at least 80% uniformity. Right now you probably have 40-50% uniformity.

Personally I'm a detailed person, I congratulate you for your install and hard work you put into it. Other then the valve boxes being just about perfect , and the manifolds being pretty good too . I don't see too much attention to detail elsewhere.. Thats just me being nit picky though..

Keep up the good work!

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If that still does'nt work, than Im not sure.....

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