Why are my fittings leaking?!

[Patflemming]

I've
installed some poly pipe for some irrigation. I've doubled up the hose clamps at every fitting and tighten the bejesus out of them. They are all producing a very slow drip. What am I doing wrong? They won't tighten any more and I've push each fitting all the way in.


Are there more reliable clamps?

 

[oldVermonter]

I do a lot of drip irrigation, and have been struggling with poly connectors for years. Here are a few options I have in use:

Apollo makes a couple of products, see this PDF:

https://apolloflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Apollo-MG-Catalog_website.pdf

o Pinch clamps (p. 72). I've been using these for years. They are really cheap, and they work great....until suddenly, after a few years, without warning, they spontaneously pop loose. No idea why, but it's happened a number of times now.

o Sprint connectors (p. 80). These are more than 10x more expensive than pinch clamps. However, they can be disassembled, and reused. They seem way more reliable than pinch clamps. Even so, I had one pull loose last year due to (I believe) thermal expansion/contraction.

Another choice I've been using for about a year now:

o Blu-Lock connectors, from Orbit. These are really easy to use, and none has failed so far. They are way cheaper than Apollo Sprint, and can also be disassembled (using a special tool) and reused. However, Orbit specifically says they are not for use with continuous water pressure.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[John Gayewski]

Is there a reason not to use brass barbed fittings? The few occasions I've done this type of work we used all brass fittings with no issues.

 

[oldVermonter]

Is there a reason not to use brass barbed fittings? The few occasions I've done this type of work we used all brass fittings with no issues.

The problem isn't the fitting. Brass or plastic, you still need a clamp to hold the hose to the fitting.

 

[Jeff H Young]

The problem isn't the fitting. Brass or plastic, you still need a clamp to hold the hose to the fitting.

maybe you didnt see the picture 2 hose clamps and still leaking

 

[John Gayewski]

The problem isn't the fitting. Brass or plastic, you still need a clamp to hold the hose to the fitting.

The brass barb will dig into the inside of the pipe when clamped down. Plastic not so much.

 

[oldVermonter]

maybe you didnt see the picture 2 hose clamps and still leaking

I saw the picture. The problem is, the various solutions either:

1. Allow it to leak (hose clamps); or
2. Spontaneously detach at some future date (Apollo pinch clamps and Apollo Sprint); or
3. Aren't rated for continuous pressure (Orbit Blu-Lock).

 

[oldVermonter]

The brass barb will dig into the inside of the pipe when clamped down. Plastic not so much.

Good point. Question: What kind of clamps did you use, and for how long? My installation was fine for a year or two, then the failures began.

 

[Reach4]

1. When using two worm-gear clamps, have the worms on opposite sides.
2. Plastic fittings often have a mold mark. I would think that could allow some leakage. Brass and stainless steel couplers don't have that problem, but there are also plastic fittings that do not have that problem.

 

[John Gayewski]

Good point. Question: What kind of clamps did you use, and for how long? My installation was fine for a year or two, then the failures began.

Just regular worm gear hose clamps.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I allways stagger clamps when doubling them as well If one clamp works then 2 clamps should even if not staggard , All I can say Ive never installed them that way and wont be changing my method.

 

[WorthFlorida]

Poly pipe gets hard as it ages. Freeze thaw cycles takes its toll.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Try placing the worm drive of the second clamp on the opposite side of the fitting as the first. We never place them with the drives next to each other.