To a home or business, the water main is the main artery connecting the building to the primary water supply. This important system components function is conveying water. Working with water mains can be a very lengthy and complex process for inexperienced plumbing contractors. However the plumbers at Local Plumbing And Sewer are experts in all aspects of water main integration, installation and repair.
Working with water mains consists of several steps, including digging a trench, bedding and so on. Below we break down the main steps that we may encounter when working on a water main project.
EXCAVATION
First and foremost the initial step in Water Main Installation is excavation. It is a process where we dig a passage for installing the pipe. A number of factors which we keep in mind before initiating this process are
TRNCH DEPTH
The depth of a trench depends upon the climate, the size of the pipe, traffic and several other factors.
TRENCH WIDTH
The width of trench necessary for Water Main Installation is generally governed by the following conditions
Trench width below the top of the pipe should generally be not more than 1 to2ft (0.3 to 0.6 m) greater than the outside diameter of the pipe. The width provides enough space to workers for installing. Wide trenches should be avoided in small diameter pipes, especially in hard clay soils.
BEDDING
Bedding means preparing a platform for placing the pipes (PVC). Few things while bedding should be kept in mind.
LAYING PIPE
Once the trench is ready, the pipe may be placed into position. There are several general directions for laying pipe.
JOINING PIPE
This is a sensitive part of the Water Main Installation process. It must be done correctly to minimize leakage and ensure proper functionality and longevity for the water main service. Methods of joining, depends upon the type of pipe material and type of the joints. Bell holes must be dug by hand where pipes will be jointed. This will allow room for the joint to be installed. The size of the bell hole will vary with the type of pipe and joint used. Too large bell holes can create stress on the pipe.
PUSH ON JOINTS
The four general steps in making up ductile iron or PVC pipes push on joints are:
CONNECTING TO EXISTING MAINS
There are two possible ways to connect with existing mains. Installer can connect either by a new tee or by making a pressure tap.
A tee fitting is inserted in existing mains. Existing mains must be out of connection for several hours. A piece of main is to make a cut or snap at the outside edges of the section to be removed. Then a third cut is made midway between them. When the pipe is hit with a sledge in the center, it will easily break out
Pressure taps are highly recommended and used because of their advantages. Few of the advantages are following-
Once the excavation has been prepared, a pressure tap is completed in following steps:
This is the basic overview of what we encounter during the process of working with a Water Main Installation project. Due to the complexity of these projects, it is important to utilize a licensed, insured & experienced plumbing contractor for any jobs where there is a water main installation, water main repair or water main integration. Local Plumbing And Sewer is familiar with all aspects of water main projects and has been working with local water companies for 8+ years. Let us provide all your water main related services for your home or business!
If you have any questions on Water Supply System Materials, PVC Water Supply Pipe. We will give the professional answers to your questions.