Slip-Fix on laterals, fix the pipe on the main (usually do 4 90's or 4 45's or dig and use a couple of couplers). I don't typically use unions except for larger valves (1.5" and up) or occasionally for a backflow.
if one were to tighten a union to the best of his hand-tightening ability, what PSI might it be expected to hold? (specifically: at the gasket-compression point)?
KBI, pre-buyout by NDS, was my go-to choice, as I could get them by name, and the union threads are larger in diameter than most, and that makes them stronger. Suppliers are just as likely to have a made-in-China sch 80 union in the shelf cartons these days.
The Nibco slip-fix are the best IMO. I've been extremely disappointed with the Spears slip fix type repair couplings. We've had a large number of them fail in the last year, mostly from cracking and splitting. This is surprising given that Spears makes the best PVC fittings in the industry. We pretty much use slip fix for all lateral and main line repairs from 1" all the way up to 3". Depending on the situation we will occasionally repair a main with a union or by building a bridge out of 90's but that's mostly when we are dealing with large trees and we don't want to disturb or cut the roots. The thing about slip fixes (as I'm sure you all know) is that they have to be absolutely straight. They cannot have even the slightest bend or they will leak or crack. If you keep them straight and you measure everything precisely then they will pretty much last forever.
Recently we did a job where we pulled in 1200' of 2" PVC mainline with wire. We glued up 200' sections the day before. We dug pits and used sch 80 KBI unions to join the 200' sections. I just didn't want to install slip fixes on a brand new system.
Just my .02 cents but it seems like a slip fix is direct burial where as a union you would want in a box so it is accessible for any reason in the future.
I've used slip-fixes since the beginning. Never had a problem and they can save a lot of time. Using a union for a repair never crossed my mind. I think NIBCO was the first to come out with them and are my choice but Spears and the King Brothers (KBI) have come out with cheaper versions that the distributors like to stock.
love me some slip fix, use them all the time. however, I try to not use them if I can on a main, though I have many times. I have never had one fail, installed fully extended. I have found there is a great dif in overall length between dif brands, so I have extra short ones for those hard to fit and repair areas. spears I think, but cant remember which is which
love me some slip fix, use them all the time. however, I try to not use them if I can on a main, though I have many times. I have never had one fail, installed fully extended. I have found there is a great dif in overall length between dif brands, so I have extra short ones for those hard to fit and repair areas. spears I think, but cant remember which is which
I just don't like unions much is all, but I can understand the appeal for sure.
my sig, lol.
pretty lame really.........I have a love for grass, and grass business is tough like love. it goes further than that but we wont go there. the other part, if you could read the sign on that shop toilet of ours, it says something stinks. so, I have a pic asking if you smell "sheet" for no reason other than I find it funny
Slip-Fix on laterals, fix the pipe on the main (usually do 4 90's or 4 45's or dig and use a couple of couplers). I don't typically use unions except for larger valves (1.5" and up) or occasionally for a backflow.
Why Sch 80? What kind of systems do you work with?
When I worked on golf systems, athletic fields, and multi-field sport complexes, we never operated at pressures requiring Sch 80. On large agricultural systems we could generate pressures requiring Sch 80, but everything else was well within the range for Sch 40.
Just wondering what you're working on that requires such thicker fittings?
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