Had a question this morning about irrigation valve installation from a DIY homeowner-I like to group as many valves together as possible-just make sure to leave space between them in case they need repair or maintenance later on. The pic should show how the pressure line feeds the valves then how the lateral lines take off for their respective zones.
The back flow prevention is where the water source connects to the system as a whole. Once past that the system can be run in any fashion that the owner would like.
What I do not like about this is that they are using PVC pipe for the runs. This stuff gets brittle with age and can crack real fast if a car or heavy tractor runs over them. Also PVC can become damaged if the frost heave pushes up on the pipe. This can cause all sorts of issues. They would
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be much better off trashing the PVC and put in the correct type of plastic for the task at hand. Otherwise they will be digging up ever few years to fix damage.
PEX or black roll plastic ABS should be used. Much less fittings as the pipes can be bent around corners which means less leaks.
Walter, locally the requirements for backflow prevention vary. The job pictured was within the city of Altlana-which requires a $100 double check valve as close to the water line tap in as possible-other metro municipalities require only a dual check valve (yes, there is a difference) which is a $20 part. I always install a brass gate valve very close to the tap in of the water line (enables shut down of entire system if there is a pressure leak), then I install backflow prevention onto the gate valve.
Woodbridge-we don't have the same problems with freezing down here in the south and almost every contractor uses sch 40 pvc for pressure line and 200 psi PVC for laterals for residential installs.
What I do not like about this is that they are using PVC pipe for the runs. This stuff gets brittle with age and can crack real fast if a car or heavy tractor runs over them. Also PVC can become damaged if the frost heave pushes up on the pipe. This can cause all sorts of issues. They would ...»
PEX or black roll plastic ABS should be used. Much less fittings as the pipes can be bent around corners which means less leaks.