How to Connect Sprinkler Systems to Houses

An irrigation system consists of underground pipes, which can be made of many materials; a valve manifold; sprinklers, and a controlling irrigation timer. After the system has been installed in the yard, you might have questions about how to connect the system to your home's main water line. This connection allows water to flow from your home into the sprinkler system. Once the water flows through the valve manifold, the sprinklers pop up and water the lawn. As an example, consider the installation of a system using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

Pipe cutters
PVC primer
PVC glue
Sandpaper
Tape measure
Teflon tape
Wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the shutoff valve to the main water line.
- 2
  Screw the end pieces off of the slip-type T fitting and measure the slip-type T fitting without the end pieces.
- 3
  Cut a piece of the main water line after the main shutoff valve with the pipe cutters that's equal to the size of the fitting. Set the cut piece aside or dispose of it properly.
- 4
  Slide the ends of the slip-type T fitting onto the ends of the cut pipe. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the slip-type T fitting in the direction of the threads. Insert the fitting into the main water line where the pipe was cut and screw the ends of the T fitting back onto the T fitting. Tighten the fitting ends onto the fitting with a wrench using no more than a half-turn for each.
- 5
  Sand the ends of the piece of PVC pipe that will lead from the main water line and become the main irrigation pipeline. Wipe one end with PVC primer and glue and stick it into the opening of the slip-type T fitting. Twist it a quarter turn to make the connection snug and hold it in place for 20 seconds so it dries properly.
- 6
  Prime the insides of the irrigation line shutoff valve and the open end of the main irrigation line. Wipe PVC glue on the open end of the main irrigation line and inside one end of the main irrigation line shutoff valve. Insert the shutoff valve onto the end of the open irrigation main line, twist it a quarter turn, orient the shutoff valve facing upward and hold the two pieces together for 20 seconds.
- 7
  Sand down the piece of PVC pipe that will connect the irrigation shutoff valve to the valve manifold. Prime both ends of the pipe and the inside of the open end of the irrigation line shutoff valve. Wipe glue onto the end of the pipe and into the shutoff valve, slide the pipe into the valve opening and hold it in place for 20 seconds.
- 8
  Wipe primer into the inside of the valve manifold fitting opening. Glue the valve fitting opening and the PVC pipe that connects the shutoff valve and the manifold together. Hold the two pieces in place for 20 seconds, until they dry.

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