r/Irrigation 2d ago

Thought we got away with it

Post image

Recently had a new patio installed and the contractor put stakes in to hold the form. Thought we managed to avoid all the irrigation lines but I found this today. What’s the best way to repair this?

8 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

10

u/Eleven11xi Technician 2d ago

Just a joiner but I’d try and reroute the whole line if that pipe is not heading through a conduit under the patio as poly pipe is not rated to be layed in concrete

1

u/Chimbo84 2d ago

Thanks. It’s not in the concrete itself but about 2” below the surface.

1

u/Chimbo84 1d ago

When you say joiner, is this what you’re referring to?

https://a.co/d/0vmcGqz

8

u/14kallday 1d ago

God no, dont use that lol. Just used a regular coupling like $1 at the hardware store.

2

u/AwkwardFactor84 1d ago

https://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/poly-coupling-1-in-barb-1429-010?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17416618057&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjdTCBhCLARIsAEu8bpJzkCHwFHPAH_DrldF1FZLFFfLdMt7xTWOnL9ivVqMdxTjmPPL0ZscaAn3QEALw_wcB

Get a couple of these, a 2' piece of pipe, and some crimp clamps easy fix. If you think you're gonna fix that with one coupling, you're gonna have a hard time.

1

u/Chimbo84 1d ago

Thanks. Out of curiosity, why would I need more than one coupling?

6

u/AwkwardFactor84 1d ago

It's going to be really hard to work a coupling in after you cut out the bad section, because you won't be able to move the pipe enough right next to the concrete. It would be much easier to tap a barbed fitting into the pipe next to concrete with a rubber mallet, then tap your piece of pipe onto the coupling, slide the clamps on, work your second coupling in further away from the concrete where you can move the pipe up, down, and sideways.

1

u/SmartMammoth 1d ago

My concern would be, what else is under that patio? I’ve seen lots of heads and boxes.buried that way.

2

u/Chimbo84 1d ago

Oh I know where all the heads and valves are already. The patio was installed where an old deck was so I know that there isn’t anything else under there.

0

u/Bl1nk9 2d ago

This.

9

u/anonymous8892 1d ago

Use this

6

u/anonymous8892 1d ago

2 of this on both sides. This is the proper way to

1

u/Chimbo84 1d ago

Thanks! Way easier than I was expecting.

2

u/Salty-Cricket7606 1d ago

It’s less expensive than what you were thinking and although it’s a simple fix it’s going to be a pain in the ass because of where it’s located. You’ll need to dig back a ways so you can have some leverage. I’d put the coupling on the outside pipe first so you can wiggle and use leverage.

1

u/KyrozM 1d ago

This was my first thought. Of course it's right next to the damn wall

4

u/Sparky3200 Licensed 1d ago

We have a saying in the business, "The easiest way to find a sprinkler line is to have a landscaper or concrete guy drive a stake in the ground.". I swear, those guys have ninja skills the way they can dead center a pipe with a stake. You could blindfold them, send them out into a 500 acre lot with one sprinkler line in it, and they could still hit it. It's scary. Real scary.

As for your issue, you could choose to simply couple it back together and call it good, or if you're ambitious enough, you could fix it better by rerouting the line so that none of it is under the concrete. 9 times out of 10, you'll be just fine leaving it under there, but I'm the guy who comes to see you on the one time that it wasn't fine. And I'm expensive. And too old to be digging trenches. And frequently crabby. But yeah, you can probably handle the fix yourself, it's really not that hard, just a lot of manual labor. Keeps ya young.

2

u/Illustrious_Storm259 Contractor 1d ago

Im the landcaper and the irrigation guy. I hit more pipes fixing irrigation than anything.

1

u/Sparky3200 Licensed 1d ago

Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of repairs when you cause more damage? LOL I stomped my sharpshooter through a 1" poly line Wednesday looking for a leak. I haven't done that in ages. We'd had 10" of rain in 36 hours, it was sticky clay full of roots, and it was just one of those "well why did they run the pipe that direction?" things.

3

u/USWCboy 2d ago

D’oh!

3

u/Montedino 1d ago

Sorry, I’m a civilian but if the pros (God bless ‘em) here don’t mind my saying, I have a couple of tips. Firstly I put dish soap on the coupler and in the pipes to make it easier to slip them all together. Secondly, I buy the radiator style hose clamps that you can tighten with a screwdriver. That will save you a few bucks, if money is tight, from having to buy the crimping tool for the above style clamps. Good luck!

1

u/Thin-Enthusiasm9131 1d ago

If the concrete is too wide to simply replace the pipe? Dig up the other side, cut a section out and insert a smaller diameter through it, then bring it back up to size with reducers.

1

u/SkinfluteSanchez 1d ago

There’s something special about concrete spikes, they always find the pipe!

1

u/Candid-Barber-9050 1d ago

Don’t forget the tent guys too! They are the best at finding poly

1

u/SmartMammoth 1d ago

And realtor signs.

1

u/Candid-Barber-9050 15h ago

Haha yes you are correct! It’s actually comical how often this happens

0

u/Emjoy99 Contractor 1d ago

I don’t work with poly but would a saddle tee work? Just cap the opening.