Underground irrigation leak -- easy to fix?

[cbwardrop]

Sorry for the (next) noob question.

I have an underground leak in a spot where the system makes a 90-degree turn. It puddles instantly and decreases the water pressure on that zone. I can feel the leak with my hand, and it's right where one pipe enters the 90-degree fitting.

Seems easy enough to fix, but then I got to thinking: how do I disconnect and reconnect a pipe and/or 90-degree fitting without having to dig up the rest of the zone? It seems to me I wouldn't have enough room to do some disconnects, reconnects, screwing pipes, etc., since there's another pipe connected.

:(

[Smallaxe]

Dig the hole open enough to see what is going on, then enlarge enough to make room to work. You may need to make cuts, splice in extensions, and replace the leaking portion regardless of it being 90 degree angle or not.

This is plumbing, so at least take a look at it and see if you need a pro or not.

[cbwardrop]

I definitely wouldn't know how to make cuts, splice in extensions, etc. Replacing it seems easy enough, but it just doesn't make sense to me how I'd do it without removing the other pipe that runs from the 90-degree fitting.

What kind of pro would I need?

Just a regular plumber?

[Kiril]

Two couplings, an elbow, and 3 feet of pipe is all you need.

Expose about 12-16" of the lines on both sides of the elbow, cut out the bad elbow, install the new one.

[Toy2]

Two couplings, an elbow, and 3 feet of pipe is all you need.

Expose about 12-16" of the lines on both sides of the elbow, cut out the bad elbow, install the new one.
What he said^^^^^^^^, its not that hard, plus the next time it happens you'll know what to do.....:)

[Critical Care]

You didn't mention whether we're talking about pvc pipe or something else, which makes a big difference. Everyone is thinking pvc. If not, let us know.

Smaller diameter pvc has flex to it, and so if you dig up enough earth around that corner and cut out the elbow with a hack saw or pvc pipe cutter you should then be able to easily slip on another elbow just by pulling the two pipes in towards each other. Use primer and pvc glue or you'll still end up with a leak.

And, BTW, these "elbows" should be the "slip x slip" type, meaning the pvc pipe slips into both ends of the connector. This is the standard.

[Kiril]

You didn't mention whether we're talking about pvc pipe or something else, which makes a big difference. Everyone is thinking pvc. If not, let us know.

Smaller diameter pvc has flex to it, and so if you dig up enough earth around that corner and cut out the elbow with a hack saw or pvc pipe cutter you should then be able to easily slip on another elbow just by pulling the two pipes in towards each other. Use primer and pvc glue or you'll still end up with a leak.

And, BTW, these "elbows" should be the "slip x slip" type, meaning the pvc pipe slips into both ends of the connector. This is the standard.

:hammerhead::hammerhead::hammerhead::hammerhead:

Ignore everything this dude just said!

[Critical Care]

Ignore that Kiril kid too. He uses peanut butter for glue.

[Critical Care]

Actually, I don't think we're talking 2" pvc, so what's your beef Mr. Kirillo? I think most people would be able to uncover a couple feet of 3/4" or 1" pvc, cut out the bad ell, and glue another one in without having to install two sections of pipe with couplings. Oye vey. Whatever floats you boat man.

[Smallaxe]

I definitely wouldn't know how to make cuts, splice in extensions, etc. Replacing it seems easy enough, but it just doesn't make sense to me how I'd do it without removing the other pipe that runs from the 90-degree fitting.?

By cutting... With utility knife or even a hack saw...

What kind of pro would I need?

Just a regular plumber?

Irrigation man... or talented scaper willing to give it a shot... :)

[MarcSmith]

if you just cut out the bad ell. you are removing at least one inch from each side of the pipe PVC is flexible but not flexible...unless you dig up enough of the pipe.

if it was me. Id get a slip-fix and an ell or an ell and two couplers and about 12" of pvc pipe.... it would have the least impact ipmact on flow and pressure

[AI Inc]

Do your part to help salvage the economy, call an irrigation contractor.

[MarcSmith]

no let him fix it himself, and then when it leaks again and clogs all the heads, then call a contractor...more $$$$

[Kiril]

Ignore that Kiril kid too. He uses peanut butter for glue.

Actually I use medium body gray with purple primer.

Actually, I don't think we're talking 2" pvc, so what's your beef Mr. Kirillo? I think most people would be able to uncover a couple feet of 3/4" or 1" pvc, cut out the bad ell, and glue another one in without having to install two sections of pipe with couplings. Oye vey. Whatever floats you boat man.

Well lets consider one of the reasons for pipe/fitting failure is strain on the pipe/fitting, why would you go and recommend doing something that is very likely to just fail again? In the world of professional irrigation, we like to relieve strain on fittings/pipe, not introduce it, and that goes for both PVC and poly. Furthermore, in order for your "solution" to work, the OP would probably need to expose more pipe, which means more digging.

[Critical Care]

Yeah, slip fix it! I was going to say that Marc, however in a facetious manner. I doubt that most homeowners would know what a slip fix is.

I'm not going to tell every homeowner to go out and spend his bucks on an I-20 because the I-20 is less likely to fail than an Orbit, even though I'd never install Orbits. But in this real world some people are looking for an EASY quick fix that they can understand and handle without a lot of hassle. For example, I'd never use a hacksaw on smaller pvc pipe, but that's probably what most Joes have on hand. I also blow out irrigation systems using a 185 cfm compressor, but not very many homeowners do that themselves. We see them using shop compressors, and we cringe at the idea, but quite often they get by okay. There are a lot of people who simply try to get by as quickly and cheaply as possible, and that will always be a factor.

But FWIW, I agree - of course - that any pipe which has strain on it can fail, and obviously how much ground you have to remove to allow for the new elbow depends upon the pipe and layout. And we still don't know if this is pvc, poly, or paper mache.

[Jb3NH]

Give it a try. You may surprise yourself.

[Stevegotcrabgrass]

what if it's poly pipe? Then what is this dude gonna do. Up north all we use is poly underground. Manifolds are PVC but thats about it.

[No Rush]

cbwardrop - do you have PVC or poly pipe?

[Stevegotcrabgrass]

If you have poly you just need some clamps, some fittings and some poly. You can probably even fit it with funny pipe. I have used funny pipe multiple times without any incidents.

[topsites]

Learn to splice.

[cgaengineer]

:hammerhead::hammerhead::hammerhead::hammerhead:

Ignore everything this dude just said!

Why? The only thing he posted that I question was pulling the pipes together. If the line is split you will have to add a section.

[Ax Mcgee]

You're gonna cal out a pro (irrigation plumber) and he is gonna come out to fix your leak charge you 200 for wasting his time. You're more than likely gonna sit there and watch, then realize how easy it is. Then you are gonna march right inside and punch yourself in the face for being so silly and wasting that money. (please take photo or video of last action)

Read :
http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_repair_irrigation_system/

http://www.igin.com/article-761-irrigation-pipe-repair.html

[Stevegotcrabgrass]

I was actually a little nervous when I did my first install. It was 8 zones, back flow from the house plumbing and all. This was the first time I ever did sprinklers at all. never even fixed a head. I just read a bunch of stuff online and it came out awesome. You will be surprised at how easy somethings are. This is not to say that skill isn't involved or it may not be hard work. splicing a line is fairly easy though.