Landscapers-Sprinklers guys, Help needed.

[Jess]

I know we know pretty much everything between the varied lives and experiences we all have so I'll present my question to the bunch here. I'm a deck builder and need to move a sprinkler at a client's job. This is pretty common and I carry most parts to do it. I've come across one I don't recognize nor do I have the parts to relocate.
ON the blue tubing, it says 1/2" OD, which is unusual, I think. The sprinkler head has some sort of "quick connect" connecter it seems.

Here's the deck (just showing off).



Any input from irrigation gurus, or anyone who recognizes this system is much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Jesse

[GH85Carrera]

One simple thing is to see if that connector at the bottom comes off with a twist. If it does, clip a one inch long piece of the tubing off and go to a local professional yard sprinkler supply store. The big box stores will likely be a waste of time.

When I put in my sprinkler system 15 years ago the flexible tubing to the head was brand new. It was just a push on friction connection over a barbed end.

The pros will recognize the brand of connections and sell you what you will need to move the head.

[Jess]

This job is in the boonies but there is a Lowe's a few miles away that has led to nothing but frustration. Homeowner is a quality control engineer for an aerospace manufacturer and quite picky. I'm reluctant to disable the system even for an hour to do what you suggest. I know you're right and ultimately, that's what I'll need to do, though. Just reread your post, Glen. Put the sprinkler back on after I cut! I've played a bit with the connector and it doesn't seem to rotate or push back (like an air hose coupler). I'll monkey with it a bit more this morning.

Thanks much for your reply!

Jesse

[craigster59]

It almost looks similar to Toro's "funny pipe" system. You should be able to screw the sprinkler body off of the elbow and lose the blue piping altogether. Just replace with a length of poly pipe and some 1/2" fittings at the sprinkler and the tee at the main pipe.

http://www.toro.com/en-us/homeowner/do-it-yourself-irrigation/funny-pipe/pages/default.aspx

[futurefun]

Looks like slip on over barbed fitting, Call DBC Irrigation Supply 303-295-1777

[look 171]

PEX, I think? Can't see the clamp.

[Baz]

Hi Jesse....I'm an irrigation contractor so let me provide some input...

Dig up the flex (blue) pipe back to where it connects to the main PVC pipe and take that off and start over from that fitting and take it to wherever you want the head relocated. Now if that flex pipe comes straight off PVC but NOT at a joint (tee)...but as the end of a straight section of PVC pipe....just dig back far enough to cut the PVC pipe and glue on a 90 [or 45] to divert it where it needs to go.

With this method you may not even have to remove the head - just add enough PVC pipe to the section you cut off to get where you need to go. Or remove some if that is the case.

You'll have to have basic PVC skills to do this of course, which I'm assuming you have.

If you don't want to dig it back but simply want to connect & add what is needed from that spot....that head should unscrew from the fitting and you should have a 1/2" or 3/4" male pipe fitting attached to the blue pipe. If that is the case, simply go buy a female adapter to screw on it and glue in PVC pipe. You can buy the glue-type flex pipe (called "flex pipe") at any irrigation supply place and fittings to go with it as need be.

We use flex joints all the time, which is obviously what you are dealing with, but that blue flexible pipe in your photo is not what we use.

I have seen some odd flex joint technology pop up from time to time and what you have could be some of that.

How far does it have to go in your relocation?

Be happy to help more if you haven't already resolved the situation...

Here's an older pic of my truck with irrigation stuff...I pre-assemble my flex joints as seen in the white bucket lower left...and that is not the glue-type flex pipe - that is called "funny pipe" by Irritrol...and uses barb-type fittings, which I like better than the glue type.

Regards,
Baz

[Baz]

Nice deck BTW! You do good work...

[Jess]

Thanks Bazza!

You nailed what I finally figured out today. It is flex, 1/2 OD with slip on connectors. I've only got to move the head three feet so I'd rather not trench back to the PVC. I found the slip on 90 I needed but I'd rather not by a hundred foot roll of the flex and that seems my only option. I have plenty of standard 3/4" flex (which is what I run into in most yards) and the fittings to go with it. Do they make 3/4 treaded male to 3/4 barb coupler? That would solve everything. Thread it into there the head was and then be able to use all the parts I carry.

Thanks for the compliment. BTW, I've always enjoyed your posts!

Thanks to all who replied!

Jesse

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Jess

Thanks Bazza!

You nailed what I finally figured out today. It is flex, 1/2 OD with slip on connectors. I've only got to move the head three feet so I'd rather not trench back to the PVC. I found the slip on 90 I needed but I'd rather not by a hundred foot roll of the flex and that seems my only option. I have plenty of standard 3/4" flex (which is what I run into in most yards) and the fittings to go with it. Do they make 3/4 treaded female to 3/4 barb coupler? That would solve everything. Thread it into there the head was and then be able to use all the parts I carry.

Thanks for the compliment. BTW, I've always enjoyed your posts!

Thanks to all who replied!

Jesse

Jesse,

Glad we are making progress and thanks for the compliment.

So just to clarify.....

You want to start off at the current location of the head - and add about 3 feet of 3/4 flex pipe (the type that is glued into PVC fittings).

You need an adapter to connect the 3/4 flex pipe to where the head currently attaches?

[Baz]

Also...that looks like a Hunter PGJ (or the older PGM) head...which uses a 1/2" inlet.

[Baz]

So if indeed it is a 1/2" inlet/head....just unscrew the entire head and you will have a 1/2" MPT (male pipe thread).

To connect your 3/4" flex pipe to the 1/2" MPT.....take a 3/4" coupling and glue into it a 3/4" slip to 1/2" female thread bushing....like this:


Screw that onto the end of the flex pipe where the head was attached (1/2" MPT).

Then glue your 3/4" flex pipe into the other end (of the 3/4" coupling) and run the flex pipe where it needs to go.

To attached the head use a 3/4" slip:1/2" FPT fitting...and a 1/2" 'close' poly nipple.

That should do it.

[Baz]

As a last resort you could always call a local irrigation contractor and ask if you could buy a short piece of flex or funny pipe. If another contractor in the area asked me for anything like that I would just give it to him no questions asked. Now a homeowner....that would be a horse of s different colour.

[Jess]

Arrrg, I feel your pain right now! It's like when a homeowner is calling every part of a deck by the wrong name.

Most of the sprinkler's I damage or need to relocate out here are a black flexible plastic, not PVC or really ABS either. I think it's just called poly. Ts, couplers, and 90's are barbed and then have female threads for the risers, heads, etc; either half or three quarters. I heat poly with a heat gun, slip the barbed coupler in and throw on a hose clamp for good measure. Many don't use clamps.

I want to find a male (mistyped and edited in prior post) 3/4 threaded to male barbed coupler. Yes, I want to start at the current head location and move three feet.

I think I've got it, just been a long day; thought I'd wrap this thing up but a bench got the better of me!

Thanks again for the help!



Jesse

[gsxrken]

Out of curiosity, why are you, as the deck contrsctor, on the hook to relocate sprinklers? I would assume that the sprinkler contractor would be called in, and on the homeowners dime. Was it a known extra that you said you would deal with in the quote?

[Baz]

I want to find a male (mistyped and edited in prior post) 3/4 threaded to male barbed coupler.

You should be able to get what you need from Lowes - but if not - keep in mind calling a local irrigation contractor. I would think they would be happy to help out.

[Jess]

Baz, I think you're right about lowe's and I feel the same about helping another contractor, or even homeowner, if they're respectful and don't treat me as a dirty contractor.

I'll get it tomorrow.

GSX, I'm subbing this from another deck contractor while I was between projects. I didn't draw the plan or even see the original contract. Sometimes it's just easier to get it done than ***** about who's job it should be or point to the fine print. When you make your living digging holes in folks yards, this just happens from time to time. My contract exempts me from fixing them for free, I "get" $55 an hour for unforeseen things like this but I don't remember the last time I charged it. Little things go a long way to change homeowner's minds about preconceptions about contractors. Most think we're out to screw them from the onset. If I spend an hour fixing a sprinkler line I dig through on a $xx,xxx job, it goes along way to not tack on another $55 bucks. I don't even collect money until the job is complete.

Jesse

[Jess]

Baz,

Thanks again for your help. Got me thinking "outside the box," an expression I usually despise, but in this case it worked.

Here's how I did it, just as you suggested:

Here was the result once the damn sprinkler was out of the way!




Thanks again, so much for your help!

Jesse

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Jess

Baz,

Thanks again for your help. Got me thinking "outside the box," an expression I usually despise, but in this case it worked.

Here's how I did it, just as you suggested:

Here was the result once the damn sprinkler was out of the way!




Thanks again, so much for your help!

Jesse

Yo Jesse,

NICE JOB!

Thanks for the followup.....glad it worked out. So that was a 3/4" inlet on the head. Thinking outside the box is a philosophy I use every day in my work! Not a bad approach....being unconventional is better than being a sheep!

Congrats on the nice project - have a great w/e!

Baz

[Jess]

Thank you, my friend!

No, you were correct, everything laid out there is half inch stuff.

I live outside the box, in every aspect of life; just don't like that expression for it. To overused.

In this case, I just meant I got caught up in using the same type of stuff that was installed. Irrigation is not my strong point, or plumbing. So many specific parts/pieces that it leads to too many parts runs for me!

Have yourself a wonderful weekend, as well.

Jesse