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Inground Sprinkler Advice Needed jeffg 07-18-2007
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Posted by on July 18, 2007, 12:45 pm
I want to replace my 40 year old sprinkler system.

After speaking to different sprinkler people, I'm wondering if I
should go with a copper or threaded PVC manifold.

I've heard the argument that copper is better because it won't crack
and leak like PVC can over time.

I've also heard the argument that threaded PVC is better because it's
cheaper to install initially and to repair because you just unscrew
the unions and replace the section that broke. With copper, sweating
is needed to replace the broken section of copper.

I plan to winterize every year, so having that in mind, is copper
really so much better? I got an estimate from someone who did good
work for a neighbor, who came in $650 less (for PVC schedule 80
threaded) than the cheapest quote I got for a copper manifold.

The more expensive copper estimate was also more because he proposed a
more elaborate system that I don't think I really need (more fixed
heads vs. fewer rotary heads).

Any thoughts or experience with this?
Also, it seems like glued PVC should ALWAYS be avoided. Is that true?


Posted by Bob F on July 18, 2007, 4:23 pm

>I want to replace my 40 year old sprinkler system.
>
> After speaking to different sprinkler people, I'm wondering if I
> should go with a copper or threaded PVC manifold.
>
> I've heard the argument that copper is better because it won't crack
> and leak like PVC can over time.
>
> I've also heard the argument that threaded PVC is better because
> it's
> cheaper to install initially and to repair because you just unscrew
> the unions and replace the section that broke. With copper,
> sweating
> is needed to replace the broken section of copper.
>
> I plan to winterize every year, so having that in mind, is copper
> really so much better? I got an estimate from someone who did good
> work for a neighbor, who came in $650 less (for PVC schedule 80
> threaded) than the cheapest quote I got for a copper manifold.
>
> The more expensive copper estimate was also more because he proposed
> a
> more elaborate system that I don't think I really need (more fixed
> heads vs. fewer rotary heads).
>
> Any thoughts or experience with this?
> Also, it seems like glued PVC should ALWAYS be avoided. Is that
> true?
>

Why would you want to avoid glued PVC? It's worked fine for me for the
last 20 years. The only reason I can think of is sun exposure. Most of
the system is buried.

Bob



Posted by J.A. Michel on July 18, 2007, 5:49 pm

>I want to replace my 40 year old sprinkler system.
>
> After speaking to different sprinkler people, I'm wondering if I
> should go with a copper or threaded PVC manifold.
>
> I've heard the argument that copper is better because it won't crack
> and leak like PVC can over time.
>
> I've also heard the argument that threaded PVC is better because it's
> cheaper to install initially and to repair because you just unscrew
> the unions and replace the section that broke. With copper, sweating
> is needed to replace the broken section of copper.
>
> I plan to winterize every year, so having that in mind, is copper
> really so much better? I got an estimate from someone who did good
> work for a neighbor, who came in $650 less (for PVC schedule 80
> threaded) than the cheapest quote I got for a copper manifold.
>
> The more expensive copper estimate was also more because he proposed a
> more elaborate system that I don't think I really need (more fixed
> heads vs. fewer rotary heads).
>
> Any thoughts or experience with this?
> Also, it seems like glued PVC should ALWAYS be avoided. Is that true?
>

Glued PVC is just fine. It will make you a great system. I'm not sure why
you would avoid it. Copper is excellent, but hard to repair and damn
expensive. Have you bought any copper lately? Uh-huh. Go with PVC or even
Poly. My system is poly and the advantage to it (other than easy repairs)
is it installs easy with a trenchless machine. At any rate, Sch. 80. PVC
will make you a bulletproof system.


Posted by on July 19, 2007, 12:07 pm
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >I want to replace my 40 year old sprinkler system.
>
> > After speaking to different sprinkler people, I'm wondering if I
> > should go with a copper or threaded PVC manifold.
>
> > I've heard the argument that copper is better because it won't crack
> > and leak like PVC can over time.
>
> > I've also heard the argument that threaded PVC is better because it's
> > cheaper to install initially and to repair because you just unscrew
> > the unions and replace the section that broke. With copper, sweating
> > is needed to replace the broken section of copper.
>
> > I plan to winterize every year, so having that in mind, is copper
> > really so much better? I got an estimate from someone who did good
> > work for a neighbor, who came in $650 less (for PVC schedule 80
> > threaded) than the cheapest quote I got for a copper manifold.
>
> > The more expensive copper estimate was also more because he proposed a
> > more elaborate system that I don't think I really need (more fixed
> > heads vs. fewer rotary heads).
>
> > Any thoughts or experience with this?
> > Also, it seems like glued PVC should ALWAYS be avoided. Is that true?
>
> Glued PVC is just fine. It will make you a great system. I'm not sure why
> you would avoid it. Copper is excellent, but hard to repair and damn
> expensive. Have you bought any copper lately? Uh-huh. Go with PVC or even
> Poly. My system is poly and the advantage to it (other than easy repairs)
> is it installs easy with a trenchless machine. At any rate, Sch. 80. PVC
> will make you a bulletproof system.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

With glued PVC, how would you repair a section of manifold if you need
to?
With a threaded PVC manifold, you'd just unscrew the sections you need
and replace.

One proponent of copper made the argument against threaded PVC, that
you'd need to take
apart the entire manifold to get pieces out. But I guess that would
depend on how the
manifold is built - if it's build with extra sections between the
valves to give more room to
work with later. Right?

Also, they'd use poly for the actual lines.
My original question of copper vs. PVC only applies to the manifold.


Posted by J.A. Michel on July 19, 2007, 5:16 pm

>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >I want to replace my 40 year old sprinkler system.
>>
>> > After speaking to different sprinkler people, I'm wondering if I
>> > should go with a copper or threaded PVC manifold.
>>
>> > I've heard the argument that copper is better because it won't crack
>> > and leak like PVC can over time.
>>
>> > I've also heard the argument that threaded PVC is better because it's
>> > cheaper to install initially and to repair because you just unscrew
>> > the unions and replace the section that broke. With copper, sweating
>> > is needed to replace the broken section of copper.
>>
>> > I plan to winterize every year, so having that in mind, is copper
>> > really so much better? I got an estimate from someone who did good
>> > work for a neighbor, who came in $650 less (for PVC schedule 80
>> > threaded) than the cheapest quote I got for a copper manifold.
>>
>> > The more expensive copper estimate was also more because he proposed a
>> > more elaborate system that I don't think I really need (more fixed
>> > heads vs. fewer rotary heads).
>>
>> > Any thoughts or experience with this?
>> > Also, it seems like glued PVC should ALWAYS be avoided. Is that true?
>>
>> Glued PVC is just fine. It will make you a great system. I'm not sure
>> why
>> you would avoid it. Copper is excellent, but hard to repair and damn
>> expensive. Have you bought any copper lately? Uh-huh. Go with PVC or
>> even
>> Poly. My system is poly and the advantage to it (other than easy
>> repairs)
>> is it installs easy with a trenchless machine. At any rate, Sch. 80. PVC
>> will make you a bulletproof system.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> With glued PVC, how would you repair a section of manifold if you need
> to?
> With a threaded PVC manifold, you'd just unscrew the sections you need
> and replace.
>
> One proponent of copper made the argument against threaded PVC, that
> you'd need to take
> apart the entire manifold to get pieces out. But I guess that would
> depend on how the
> manifold is built - if it's build with extra sections between the
> valves to give more room to
> work with later. Right?
>
> Also, they'd use poly for the actual lines.
> My original question of copper vs. PVC only applies to the manifold.
>
Like you said, it depends in how the manifold was built. Building the
manifold with some extra space might be a good idea. Another thing to
consider is may never need to take the manifold apart. Most valves can be
repaired in place, meaning you would never have to remove the body, just
replace the parts inside it. Honestly, I can't see any advantage in
building it from copper.


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