Breaking street els

**tagyerit** · 04-04-2009, 03:16 PM

OK..I installed a system about 5 years ago and it seems that the street els going to the sprinkler body's keep breaking out. Do you think it is due to over tightening them or maybe is the brand (orbit) the problem. Im having about a 20 percent blowout rate.

Thanks

hj · 04-04-2009, 04:27 PM

They are very intolerent of any kind of stress, the same as male adapters. If you do not have a space problem a short cut off end from a sch.80 threaded nipple screwed into the valve with an elbow glued to the other end will be countless times stronger.

**jimbo** · 04-04-2009, 05:38 PM

If you are talking about a street ell used to make a connection to the individual heads, then of course they see a lot of stress as the heads are walked on. The very best way to install sprinkler heads is to assemble with the Marlex elbows and a short piece of funny pipe.