Splicing a water line

[ALHILLDIRT]

I have a 3/4" pvc cold water line and a 3/4" cpvc hot water line that I need to tap into for supply to a small sink. I have fair access to the lines. These are main supply lines with an operating average pressure of 55 psi.

My question: Is there a secure way to tap into these lines without cutting the line and installing a "T".

 

[6sunset6]

Saddle valves. Clamps on and then screw it down to pierce the pipe. used for ice makers etc,

 

[ray66v]

There are saddle piercing valves out there, but, I would not recommend it.
Why would you want to? PVC is so easy to splice.

Besides, your not going to get much volume through a piercing valve is you do use them.

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

Just looking for the proverbial "easier way" I guess. The water supply needs are for a small, and cutting the line would involve draining the pipe to prevent a big mess.

 

[gemini5362]

I agree why use a saddle valve. PVC is the easiest thing in the world to splice into Just get a pvc cutter and cut the pipe in half then cut out enough to put the t into it. barely more work than a saddle valve and a lot less chance of leaks. pLus as has already been pointed out. More volume.

 

[ray66v]

Depending on your situation, there are all kinds of creative ways to drain the pipes without any mess. For example, you could use compressed air, (with a blow gun and a rag), to blow the water out of the pipe and drain through a faucet into a sink.

 

[ToadHill]

You can get most of the water out by shutting off the pump or shut it off at the meter. Turn on the lowest tap in the house, (basement if you have one) and let the water run until all the pressure is released.

 

[UPRAISER]

A plumber friend of mine showed me a neat trick to prevent water from running out the ends of a cut water pipe.

Take a small wad of white bread and poke it into each pipe end. Just enough to stop the flow of water, not a hard ball. Make the splice, or connection. Turn the water back on and run it a few minutes, the white bread will run out the faucet. Be sure to remove any screen etc. on the faucet. It works !

Curt

 

[davitk]

A plumber friend of mine showed me a neat trick to prevent water from running out the ends of a cut water pipe.

Take a small wad of white bread and poke it into each pipe end. Just enough to stop the flow of water, not a hard ball. Make the splice, or connection. Turn the water back on and run it a few minutes, the white bread will run out the faucet. Be sure to remove any screen etc. on the faucet. It works !

Curt

Use WHITE bread, not wheat (in theory it "disolves")

 

[RalphVa]

That white bread trick is generally only used to keep the water from cooling off the pipe joint when soldering. Just catch the drips in a bucket from a plastic pipe.

I agree with the others. Just blow or drain the lines and cut them and put in tees. Make sure you have the correct PVC/CPVC tees. They're slightly different size. You can even use a copper pipe cutter tool to make the nice cuts. Just make depth changes slowly. If access is good, I generally use a little circular saw (18v Dewalt) to make nice cuts on pressure pipes. If low pressure, I just use a hack saw or sawsall.

Ralph

 

[ray66v]

The bread does not work very well, nor does the product called "plumbers bread", A synthetic bread product made for this purpose. if you have to work on pipes with water in them there is a tool called a jet swet that plugs the pipe so it can be soldered etc. Just drain or blow it out and you will only have to do the job one time.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

I have seen but never used a clamp on pcv "T" that you glue to the pipe you are tapping then drill through the "T" and glue to it. I think Home Depot has them.

Cary

 

[LBrown59]

I have a 3/4" pvc cold water line and a 3/4" cpvc hot water line that I need to tap into for supply to a small sink. I have fair access to the lines. These are main supply lines with an operating average pressure of 55 psi.

My question: Is there a secure way to tap into these lines without cutting the line and installing a "T".

Shark Bite 3/4 inch Tee.
Quick simple easy.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Just .02 worth, as long as it is going to a faucet, might as well put in the shutoff (i like the lever ball cock ones instead of the ones you have to turn to turn off) as well as the T. Get the good hose clamps, just blew a pipe off last nite trying to 'get by' with the cheapies had laying around. Even the dog got a shower! Fortunately was in the basement and by a floor drain so just the floor got a good washing.

 

[mjfox6]

I have seen but never used a clamp on pcv "T" that you glue to the pipe you are tapping then drill through the "T" and glue to it. I think Home Depot has them.

Cary

Same thing I was going to suggest. I've never tried them either, but thought they were a really neat idea when I saw them in McMaster-Carr.

PVC Pipe Fittings & Pipe

 

[billblough]

If you are worried about water you can use a waterproof glue, it is usually blue, you get most of the water out of the pipe and then apply the glue, it takes longer to set up but 15 minutes ought to be fine.

The only thing I am not sure about is if it is rated for cpvc, when I repair or change a pipe I won't use the normal clear glue anymore.

 

[gemini5362]

If you are worried about water you can use a waterproof glue, it is usually blue, you get most of the water out of the pipe and then apply the glue, it takes longer to set up but 15 minutes ought to be fine.

The only thing I am not sure about is if it is rated for cpvc, when I repair or change a pipe I won't use the normal clear glue anymore.

You might want to check the drying time for it. If I remember correctly but I am not sure the blue glue is actually the one with the fast set up time because it is made to use where there is water in the pipe

 

[turnkey4099]

That white bread trick is generally only used to keep the water from cooling off the pipe joint when soldering. Just catch the drips in a bucket from a plastic pipe.

I agree with the others. Just blow or drain the lines and cut them and put in tees. Make sure you have the correct PVC/CPVC tees. They're slightly different size. You can even use a copper pipe cutter tool to make the nice cuts. Just make depth changes slowly. If access is good, I generally use a little circular saw (18v Dewalt) to make nice cuts on pressure pipes. If low pressure, I just use a hack saw or sawsall.

Ralph

While sorta correct, it is used 'to keep the water from screwing up the joint' for whatever reason, e.g., on plastic pipe, the glue does not like wet surfaces. I have used it both on copper and plastic.

Harry K