All About PVC Fittings (irrigation training)

Everything you need to know about PVC fittings available for irrigation uses.
This video is part of our online video training course Irrigation 101: Piping Systems.
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Download our Free Troubleshooting Guide PDF. 9 pages that covers the 9 most common issues with irrigation systems.
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Para subtítulos en español, asegúrese de que los subtítulos CC estén activados, luego haga clic en Configuración (la rueda dentada) y luego haga clic en Subtítulos y luego en Español.

[@charliek9742]

This is a fantastic summary and the authors experience is obvious! I like the fact that he provides his opinion of certain adaptors, but is honest and says he doesn't have direct experience. Many on UA-cam will simply say such and such a fitting is the only way to go which to me, shows their ignorance. Looking forward to watching some of your other videos. Keep up the good work!

[@Proirrigationtraining]

Hey sorry I didn't see this comment when you made it. But thank you so much for watching and commenting. I try to be honest about my experience with certain things. It seems like there's certain methods that are prominent in a market, and that's what you see and deal with the most. Occasionally I'll see different methods, and it's usually from a tech that has moved here from a different state.

[@aarons4180]

THERE IS A 4th WAY: purging air in the line can also increase pressure. I've been working with a gravity fed system and the terrain is somewhat undulating between the tank and the highest elevation controller. I added a valve to purge air from the system at a local high spot in the feeder. Once the line is bled there is enough pressure to get the MP rotators to pop up. If I don't do this at the end of rainy season there just isn't enough pressure.

[@Proirrigationtraining]

You've made a good point about piping that changes elevation like that. If it undulates too much, it can trap air in the upper curves. Thank you so much for commenting, it may help someone in a similar situation. Things like this can be pretty tough to figure out for a tech that's not intimately familiar with a system.

[@daahirjimcaale-mz9xo]

Daahir jimcaale dhegataag.
1.0. What will happen if i use a 10 inch uPVC pipe lines of 20 kilometers length with check valves for every 1km inorder to get all the time a full of water pipe line installation due to the gentle slope of the ground.
2.0. What will be the effect of this one directional uPVC check valves.
3.0. Give some of your comments about this matter.

[@user-wj8ht1fh7h]

Where do I find these "saddle clamps"? I've been to plumbing and irrigation supply houses and they do not have them. They did refer to them as "snap taps". If I had some (schedule 40) 1", 3/4", and 1/2" to fit the outside diameter of our class 200 pipe it would save me hours of digging. Thank you.

[@Proirrigationtraining]

You know, they are pretty tough to find. I think I get mine from my local Ewing Irrigation. But there's some great websites as well as amazon that have them I'm sure.

[@FNMCaffeine]

What type of 90 degree elbow would you recommend to connect 1" black poly distribution tubing? I heard 1" Easy Loc is a better option that the $1 Polypropylene Blue Twister Insert 90-Degree Elbow that Home Depot sells. What would you recommend?

[@Proirrigationtraining]

To be honest, my experience with poly fittings is that even the cheap insert barbs are as good as anything else. You've got to use clamps and keep the pressure below 80. That being said, Easy LOK has a good reputation, bit more expensive though.

[@freeandcriticalthinker4431]

Let me ask you, why is it the couplings are so short compared to bell ends? I would love to be able to buy those long bells to use for couplings but I have never seen them. Any thoughts on that?

[@Proirrigationtraining]

That's a good question!! I've wondered about, and I'm sure there's a good explanation why bell ends are so long. But there is a long coupling out there from some manufacturer. Not as long as a bell end, but definitely longer than normal. Just don't remember where I got them. I like to have short and long options on stuff like couplings, slip-fixes, etc.

[@dragonfly264]

I’ve been told to avoid Schedule 40 pvc. Is that advisable and if so, what would you recommend?

[@Proirrigationtraining]

I'm not really sure why someone would say that in relation to irrigation systems. Schd 80 fittings are obviously thicker and better, but they're also a good bit more expensive. I'm sure plumbers want to only use Schd 80. But cost-wise, it's just not cost feasible to construct an irrigation system with Schd 80 fittings.

[@TheJoshman2011]

​​@@Proirrigationtrainingbsolutely agree schd 40 will do the job for just about every application. I personally am not familiar with residential irrigation. However, i do know golf course irrigation, and im sure it's just the same with both sides, nothing but an irritation. The nightmares i could tell about broken lines, and all 3 pump running trying to maintain pressure, before hitting low pressure cutoff. To note each pump could flow 600gpm while maintaining around 90 - 120psi

[@Proirrigationtraining]

@@TheJoshman2011 600 gpm!!! That's wild! I've never worked on a system that large before. I've done some medium sized ag, sports fields, etc., but having 3 x 600 gpm is a lot of water. And yes, schd 40 will do the trick for any residential system.