How to repair a broken PVC sprinkler pipe

[@oregonberry]

As a former landscaper (I did plant care, not irrigation), I have to chuckle that you left the weedy grass in the turf. :) Thanks for the video. I've never seen a quick fix, but that would be the perfect solution for my broken pipe.

[@TubeToonist]

Incredible! I saved a bundle, after the freeze, here in Spring Texas. I followed your video on repairing my overflow valve. THANKS!

[@8konquers]

Thanks! Was looking for how to properly apply the primer and cement along with dry time. Very informative!

[@richellehudson]

Thanks for the detailed info for the rookie like me that can fix my rookie mistake. Much apreciated great job!

[@Iscaper]

My video on how to repair pvc class 200 sprinkler pipe shows how to install a tee. In your case the tee would be a 3/4" Tee SXSXS instead of the tee shown in the video. If you're tapping into a line for a garden, you would want to tap into a supply line (this way you would have constant pressure to the garden, tapping into a zone line would only give you water when the zone is on). To find a supply line, you could dig next to a valve box and find the line feeding the valves in the manifold.

[@akko410]

Looks simple and clear! great tutorial. I will follow your tutorial coming weekend. Thanks again.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks Matt, your feedback is appreciated.

[@davess357]

I've used these type of connectors several times. They make the repair invaluably easier.

[@Iscaper]

I agree. Thanks for watching.

[@Iscaper]

@JohnAgee102688 Pipe cutters are Wheeler 18Z ratcheting cutters. Very nice cutters for PVC pipe. They are more expensive than normal cutters, but well worth it. Blades can be replaced. They work great on Schedule 40 pipe.

[@Iscaper]

Replacing an elbow in circuit lines is a little different than this repair. Once you cut the bad elbow out you can't simply glue a new one in because the distances don't match up. You need to cut back far enough on each pipe that you can glue in a coupling, a short piece of pipe on each, and then the elbow. Dig back enough on the lines that you can get a little flex in the PVC pipe, glue the couplings in first, and last match up and glue in the elbow.

[@Iscaper]

You can buy a quick fix repair coupling at Home Depot or any sprinkler supply store.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@MyVetteDream]

Good video. Covered in great detail. You gave me a great idea about hot to run a separate line to the sprinkler head. Thank you!

[@Iscaper]

Thanks David, I appreciate the feedback.

[@beauellenbecker9075]

Thanks! I hit a pipe while doing some landscaping. This will help a lot.

[@Iscaper]

Depends on the glue you used but you should be ok. Leave the hole open and pressure up the line, if the glue joint is going to fail it usually will do it withing 10 seconds.

[@Iscaper]

You can feel if a fitting is going to push off the pipe when gluing the fitting. It will begin pushing off the pipe immediately. If this happens then I will hold the fitting securely for around 10 seconds. 30 seconds on this type of glue which is Red Hot Blue Glue is a waste of time because this is a fast set glue designed for wet applications. Slower set glues like a gray glue would require more hold time.

[@Iscaper]

Definitely buy a quick fix coupling. You would have to expose 10' of pipe to get enough flex to use 2 couplings and make a good glue joint. It's much easier and faster to use the quick fix. Be sure to do some measuring before you make your cuts.

[@mattharrold7097]

Thanks, all the answers I needed, 10 dollars worth of parts and a shovel and I was done.

[@fcbib]

Nice info. Do you have a video on how to install a tee in existing system? Including how to locate the feed lines. I need to tap into system for additional water feed for a new garden. Thanks in advance.

[@Iscaper]

I'm glad the video helped. Thanks for commenting.

[@Iscaper]

Sometimes it's not feasible to wait 24 hours. I use Christy's Red Hot Blue Glue which is ideal for fast pressurization and has a very fast set time.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks for the comment.

[@mmmax2g]

very good job.. You answered a lot of questions for me..

[@Iscaper]

Thanks for watching.

[@PeterSodhi]

Another excellent video, cheers.

[@Iscaper]

I was hired to repair the broken sprinkler line, not to cure the weeds in the grass problem.

[@Iscaper]

I disagree. You would need 4 elbow to make your repair work, not to mention the fact that you then make the water change directions four times using the elbows. The last quick fix I bought was around $4 not $8. The time saved using a quick fix more than pays for the coupling.

[@Iscaper]

If you can it's good to wait 24 hours for the glue to set, but I've never had trouble pressuring up sooner using the Red Hot Blue Glue.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks.

[@dailyhabitz]

Your videos are great. Just wanna say, thanks!

[@Iscaper]

Thanks, your comment is appreciated.

[@dailyhabitz]

+iScaper1 yeah, you saved me in a pinch when I needed to repair a pipe with the same application.

[@Iscaper]

Awesome!

[@milesbrown5768]

Thank you! I appreciate your help!

[@Iscaper]

Thanks Miles for the comment.

[@andrewaguirre4451]

nice on point videos

[@hlchambers]

Thank you very much. I think I can now do it....

[@equate5]

I thought it might be easy. Thanks

[@Iscaper]

@1teamarie Thanks.

[@guavaball]

great video thanks

[@Iscaper]

Thanks.

[@philp8168]

so that slip easy fix joint you used. is that the best way to fix the pipe?? another question is... if you used 2 couplings to fix the break. how do you get the pvc pipe in between the 2 couplings with out breaking anything and still having enough pipe inside each coupling.

[@Iscaper]

+bep2001 kumar The male end of the quick fix coupling glues into the fitting on one end of the PVC pipe. You then telescope the quick fix coupling out and glue the female end onto the other end of the PVC pipe.

[@CephusJones]

I read that you have to put in on properly based on the direction of water flow so that doesn't happen.

[@equate5]

How do you replace and elbow? Thanks

[@mattquintana91]

You don't like Blu-Lock?

[@trinthakias]

haha, if i used a slipfix for every broken pipe ive had to repair....my boss would not be a happy person to say the least..

[@mattripley]

good video except you didn't flush the lines before installing the sprinkler head. with all that dirt around the break you could end up with some annoying and costly clogs to your clients system

[@JPKHOSA]

where i can buy quick fix

[@pbnaj]

Thnx Buddy

[@Balikausa]

you do not have to use a 8 dollars slip fix on that case , use an elbow and a "street " elbow and a short piece of pipe. cheaper and faster, even better....

[@christoferharms11]

He really should have held each solvent cemented joint together for 30 seconds to avoid push-out

[@goldbond197666]

you should always try to turn the tee to the side so there is some give. otherwise the funny pipe fitting will break if something runs it over

[@blueticecho]

You must live close to the UPRR right a way..........

[@goldbond197666]

theres alot of stress on both funny fittings because the funny pipe is too short. shoulda put your tee at the other end and extended the funny pipe

[@jdek88]

Funny pipe - A No No. PVC pipe - A worse No No

[@Iscaper]

Why are PVC pipe and funny pipe No Nos?

[@jdek88]

PVC breaks easier for one. Gluing takes up time and is a hassle. Poly pipe is the way to go. I won't even service PVC systems. Funny pipe is just the cheap way of doing things. Worse pressure and just a messy system I think. It's not that yo used it but it's more of a personal preference on how I do business that's all. It's not bad, just the easy way out, which isn't always a bad thing.

[@Iscaper]

Jordan Dekker Poly pipe is more flexible that PVC but not as strong. In 3/4" the highest rated Poly pipe I've seen is 160 psi where 3/4" PVC pipe is rated over 450 psi. Plus over time Poly pipe gets brittle and splits. In my area if you didn't work on PVC sprinkler systems you wouldn't have any work. Every sprinkler contractor I know uses and loves funny pipe. Funny pipe isn't a cheap way of doing things, it's a fast and flexible way to install sprinkler heads.

[@jdek88]

That's okay. We all have our ways of doing things. What I do know is my grandpa had a sprinklers business for 34 years until he sold it and never spent a single dollar on advertising. He just installed the best system out there. Granted there are many factors that went into it, but it comes down to the little things. I agree it's fast and easier, but it's not clean and precise. We can agree to disagree, but having funny pipe does not work as well as having poly pipe going straight to the head.

[@1111pianoman]

were it ME, i would test the system BEFORE i backfilled the hole...geez...what if it DIDN'T work correctly?...you have to dig it out AGAIN, plus you can't see where the leak was...there is a REASON that construction inspections, be they electrical, plumbing, or whatever, are done BEFORE the work is "covered up"...i wasn't going to say anything, but since i'm THIS far in, i'd like to note that ALL of the sprinkler-head replacement work was done OUTSIDE the frame of the picture...i have NO idea what happened after he finished the PVC repair...granted, that work wasn't in the scope of the original task, but, if you're going to do it and talk about it, couldn't we at least SEE what you're talking about?...

[@Iscaper]

After doing this type of repair for 25 years, I pretty much know if it's going to be successful. The reason I put the soil and grass back first was to hold the sprinkler head in place when I test the zone. Not backfilling first means the heads flops around on the funny pipe when testing the sprinkler zone. I did show installing the barb adapter, filter screen, and nozzle starting at 5:17 and the working head at the conclusion of the repair at 6:50.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks.

[@Iscaper]

Thanks.