Leaks and leak fixing
- irrigation pipes
An irrigation system with
a serious leak can waste
approximately 24 000 litres
of water a month. Water Wise
shows you how to repair your
garden irrigation systems.
T
here are a number of ways your irrigation system
can be damaged. From over-eager pets, to
misguided garden forks, leaking irrigation systems can
waste a lot of water. Research shows that between 30
and 50% of water supplied to households is used to
water the garden. However, as long as the problem is
not too serious, damage can be repaired quite easily.
Use this simple Water Wise DIY guide to repair your
garden irrigation system.
Water Wise tips for irrigation leaks
It is important to keep replacement equipment on
hand in the event that a leak appears in an irrigation
system. Ensure that the fittings you have match the
size of the pipe. Water running or pooling in your
garden, even after the system has been turned off, can
indicate a leak. Before considering any DIY repairs
to your irrigation system, turn off the main irrigation
valve from the main water supply. If you are uncertain
of what is causing the problem, rather call an irrigation
specialist to assist you.
Repairing irrigation leaks
A damaged pipe can be repaired both temporarily
and permanently. Before repairing a leak, try to
drain all remaining water from the pipe. Make sure
you know what type of pipe you need when buying
it. There are four main types of pipe, namely Low
Density Polyethylene Plastic Pipe (LDPE), High
Density Polyethylene Plastic Pipe (HDPE), Poly Vinyl
Chloride Plastic Pipe (PVC-U) and galvanized steel
pipe. LDPE is suitable for low and medium pressure
lateral irrigation pipes. HDPE is suitable for low,
medium and high lateral and mainline pipes. PVC-U
is also suitable for low, medium and high lateral and
mainline pipes and is adhesive-compatible. Galvanized
steel pipes are usually joined by welding.
The flow and pressure of your system and whether the
pipes are mainlines or lateral lines will determine the
pipe material. The pipe material will determine how
the pipe is repaired.
For a very small leak:
-- Wrap a piece of rubber around a leaking joint and apply a stainless steel hose clamp (Fig 1 a).
-- Tighten the clasp with a screwdriver or socket wrench.
Fig 1. a) A standard steel hose clamp b) Compression coupling
It is best to repair a leak permanently. Try the following
method:
-- Use a hacksaw or pipe-cutter to remove the damaged section of the pipe.
-- Clean inside both ends of the pipe.
-- Use a compression coupling (Fig 1 b) to join the two sections together.
-- Remove both ends of the compression coupling and place one nut and washer on each side of the pipe ends.
-- Insert the centre of the coupling onto one side of the pipe and align it with the open end of the other pipe.
-- Slide the nut and washer over the coupling centre on both sides of the pipe so they fit snugly and form a good seal over the coupling centre.
-- Tighten the nuts of the coupling with a pair of pliers. Ensure that you don’t tighten the nuts too much as this may split the outer nut.
-- Turn the water back on and check for leaks at the location of the repair. Only then replace the soil.
Remember compression couplings are best suited to
repairing pipes on or in the ground.
For further information on being Water Wise® please
visit www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise
logo or contact us on 0860 10 10 60.
Leaks and leak fixing_irrigation_Rev4.indd 1
2013/07/12 10:00:27 AM
Leaks and leak fixing
- hose pipes
A damaged or leaking garden hose pipe can
waste up to 140 litres of water a week,
depending on the size of the leak and the scale
of damage. Instead of replacing the entire pipe,
use this Water Wise guide for simple, easy DIY
hose pipe repairs.
L
eaving your hose pipe in the sun or in the path of
moving vehicles and lawn mowers can result in
damages to the pipe. If your hose pipe has numerous
‘bad’ spots along its length it is generally better to
replace the entire pipe. However, if there are only one
or two spots that need replacing (Fig 1), then use the
following Water Wise guide to assist you in repairing
your hose pipe.
to remove the damaged section and re-connect the two
remaining pieces of pipe:
Fig 2. Clamp and male thread connector on repaired hose pipe
Fig 1. A damaged and leaking hose pipe
Identifying the hose pipe leak
There are a number of ways for fast and effective pipe
repair. Firstly, you need to find the location of the
leak. Is it at the tap? Does it leak where you’ve joined
two hoses together? Or does it leak somewhere in the
middle? Before repairing a leak or a damaged section of
pipe, ensure that the pipe is drained from all remaining
water. For tap repairs read “Leaks and leak fixing:
taps”.
If the hole, tear or leak is within 30 cm of the end of
the pipe, it is best to cut off the damaged section and
replace the end with a new fitting:
-- Use a utility knife or any other suitable tool to
carefully cut off the damaged section of pipe.
-- Place a hose clamp ± 2 cm from the edge of the cut
on the remaining hose.
-- Insert of male thread connector into the end of the
hose and secure with the hose clamp (Fig 2).
If the damage is in the centre of the pipe, you will need
-
-
-
Use your utility knife to carefully cut and remove the damaged section of pipe.
Join the cut ends with a barbed hose coupling by inserting the barbed ends of the coupling into the hose ends and tightening them with hose clamps to keep the couplings in place (Fig 3).
Tip: you can also place a male connector into one side of the pipe and a female connector into the other side. This gives you the option of two separate hose pipes and the ends can be screwed together to join the pieces into one pipe.
Fig 3. Standard male hose coupling and female connector.
Temporary repairs
Tiny leaks in the pipe can be repaired by wrapping
duct tape or electrical tape around the hole. Dry the
hose, then start wrapping the tape tightly around the
hose approximately 15 cm from the leak. Do not wrap
the tape too tightly as it will creep over time and the
pipe will start leaking again.
For further information on being Water Wise® please
visit www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise
logo or contact us on 0860 10 10 60.
Leaks and leak fixing_irrigation_Rev4.indd 2
2013/07/12 10:00:32 AM