Block Valve Replacment- Slipfix or Gasket Coupler Cancel The title field is required!

1. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   2/21/2013 5:02 AM

   I am replacing all my tee and green valves this spring and am curious what everyone's opinion on using a slip fix or a gasket coupler. I have used both but what would you use and why.
   I am using Hunter 2" GLOBE VLV FLOW CONTROL. A big concern I have is the piping. The picture below is a green valve that leaked last year. After digging it up I was amazed. It must have been leaking before because there was 2 couplers, 2 gasket couplers and 1 slip fix on the existing pipe plus there was a 2 in pipe that was a thicker wall(made in the 60's and 70's, not made anymore) so any new couplers would not fit on it. I had to dig the entire pipe up( about 25 feet ) until I was able to locate a regular walled pipe. Also as you see the hot side of the pipe was not strait which leads me to think more areas on the course are like that. Yea I know its crazy but I must replace the existing valves. They are very out of date with no replacement solenoids when they go out. Replacing the valve is the only way to fix it. Or manually turn the valve on and off everyday(no fun and not proper water management)
   While replacing the valves Ill be replacing all tee sprinklers also. I went with Hunter I-25 ULTRA ROTOR 50-360 DEGREE ADJUSTABLE ARC. So a complete renovation of valves and tee sprinklers this spring and all in house. Busy Busy Busy.
   
   So what do you use...slip fixes or gasket couplers and why?
   
   Thanks
   Virgil

   
   
   
   
2. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   2/21/2013 6:02 AM

   Virgil, we use slip fix only around valves. Just last fall we added some valves and replaced some irrigation on one of our holes and had a problem with gasket fittings. After we fired up the system after the install, about 4 hours later we had a lake, not a leak. About 4 feet up from where we were working and where we had stopped digging, the old line was gasket pipe and when we shut the valve to test it, the water pressure against the valve pushed the pipe out of the gasket fitting. We did have thrust blocks in place, but with fresh dug dirt and not knowing there was a gasket fitting just up from us, it was still too loose to support it. If we would have just dug a little farther we would have seen the gasket fitting. I know some people really like the gasket fittings, but just my preference and experience, we prefer the slip fixes, especially near a valve where you could create a wall with a shut valve.
   
   Good Luck
   
   Paul L Double
   Golf Course Superintendent
   Sugar Valley Golf Club

   
   
   
   
3. Tim Gravert

   

   0 posts
   
   2/21/2013 7:02 AM

   Virgil,
   
   In my experience slip fix is they way to go hands down. Especially under high pressure situations. There is just to much opportunity for the gasket fitting to leak. I have had even more problem with them leaking under your and it seems like every fix where the piping does not line up perfectly. The only time I would use a gasket fitting is under low pressure areas like a block system after the valve. Sounds like your going to have a fun spring. Good luck.
   
   Tim Gravert
   Short Hills Country Club
   East Moline, IL

   
   
   
   
4. Wydra David A

   
   2/21/2013 10:02 AM

   To me it totally depends on how straight the pipe is. If theres a big bend in the pipe or the ends don't line up very well, I have found that mechanical couplers work the best. I don't trust a slip fix thats been tweaked to allow installation. My rule of thumb: 2 1/2" and smaller I will use a pvc comp. fitting; 3" and up I will use a mechanical (Romac) compression fitting. Depending on the situation I might also use a restrained fitting. In your picture it looks to me that the slip fix is the part that failed - right where the ends dont line up. Somebody slathered it up with glue and muscled it into place. Sooner or later those will fail. That being said, if the pipe is fairly straight, then a slip fix is definetely the way to go. Just my 2 cents

   
   
   
   
5. Ashton Alan W

   
   2/21/2013 11:02 AM

   Virgil,
   
   Same problems here... and same opinion as the others... slip fix on 2-1/2 and smaller...
   
   I will add that I instruct my guys to look up the pipe with a flashlight to see if there's something that we should "do while we're here" on either side of the repair... can't count how many times we've seen something that needed to be repaired better, saving us in the long run.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   2/21/2013 8:02 PM

   Alan Ashton said: Virgil,
   
   Same problems here... and same opinion as the others... slip fix on 2-1/2 and smaller...
   
   I will add that I instruct my guys to look up the pipe with a flashlight to see if there's something that we should "do while we're here" on either side of the repair... can't count how many times we've seen something that needed to be repaired better, saving us in the long run.

   
   
   Alan,
   
   Thanks for the tip, I've never thought of doing that before.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   2/22/2013 1:02 AM

   Your answer is staring you straight in the face. you wouldn't have had to fix anything if there was no slip fix here. I can't count the number of previously installed slip fixes that we have had to dig up and repair for a second time. Slip fixes are not suitable for golf course irrigation. This one failed because thats what slip fixes do.

   
   
   
   
8. Dru Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   2/22/2013 11:02 AM

   James Schmid said: Your answer is staring you straight in the face. you wouldn't have had to fix anything if there was no slip fix here. I can't count the number of previously installed slip fixes that we have had to dig up and repair for a second time. Slip fixes are not suitable for golf course irrigation. This one failed because thats what slip fixes do.

   
   
   
   I agree!
   Proper beveling on pipe ends and ample lube = flawless repair with gasket fittings

   
   
   
   
9. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   2/22/2013 1:02 PM

   Well there you have at. Some love gasketed fittings and an equal amount love slip fix. Problem solved.

   
   
   
   
10. Tim Gravert

    

    0 posts
    
    2/22/2013 1:02 PM

    Ron hit it on the head to each their own. In that picture though I don't know if you can blame the slip fix. No matter what was used there, there should be some type of thrust block on the left side of the picture. Look at how much bend is in that!!!!

    
    
    
    
11. League Michael

    
    2/22/2013 5:02 PM

    Pipes that line up straight when you are putting a fix on??? Never seen that! I use gasketed only for this reason.

    
    
    
    
12. Heath Puckett

    

    0 posts
    
    2/22/2013 6:02 PM

    Dru Clark said:

    James Schmid said: Your answer is staring you straight in the face. you wouldn't have had to fix anything if there was no slip fix here. I can't count the number of previously installed slip fixes that we have had to dig up and repair for a second time. Slip fixes are not suitable for golf course irrigation. This one failed because thats what slip fixes do.

    
    
    
    I agree!
    Proper beveling on pipe ends and ample lube = flawless repair with gasket fittings

    
    
    My thoughts exactly. Slip fixes are ok for pipes less than 2" and lower pressures... we stock a couple of small slipfix fittings for quick repairs around the clubhouse and landscape zones only. We use gasketed fittings for everything else.
    
    Good luck with your project!

    
    
    
    
13. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    2/23/2013 5:02 AM

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: Well there you have at. Some love gasketed fittings and an equal amount love slip fix. Problem solved.

    
    
    Problem solved..lol. looks likes its 50/50

    
    
    
    
14. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    2/23/2013 6:02 AM

    Thanks everyone. I'm going to stock up on both slip fixes and gasketed. If a pipe in not strait then Ill use the gasket but if it is strait ill use the slip fix. I have fixed a lot of leaks in the past 2 years and there hasn't been 1 thrust block on any pressure points. Good chance that's the reason they leak huh.
    
    Again thanks for everyone input. I will be taking Alan's advice and looking up inside the pipe to see if other problems exist. Ive never thought about doing that before.
    
    Snow snow snow....Finally got some snow(6inches or so) and expected another 8 inches Monday. Wont be mowing greens March 4th like last year. Thank goodness!!!
    
    Again thanks for all the reply's.
    
    Virgil

    
    
    
    
15. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    2/23/2013 2:02 PM

    I have used 20+ slip fix and never had a leak in the 7 years on this course.
    
    Keith Pegg
    Zama Golf