Well line manifold question

[Gett’n it done]

Years ago I tapped into the well line running to my house to run water to my barn, automatic waterers, and 3 FP hydrants. I did it with a series of tees and 1” thick wall black poly pipe running to everything. I did it with a series of tees and it’s all been in a 4ft deep hole with a little lean to protecting it. I want to install an open bottom concrete vault so the pipes can turn up under it, and will not freeze. I then want to install a manifold in the vault so I can have a shut off valve on each line so if anything fails I don’t loose water to everything. Recently had a FPH fail and had to remove a tee and install a barbed coupler to keep everything else running. Of course dirt has fallen in over time so between some digging, shutting off and draining water system it turned into half a day job just to get the hydrant separated. A shut off valve sure would have been nice.

I need the manifold to have a 1” inlet from the well and 6 outlets all 1” also. Looking for suggestions if this should be brass or SS and where I might find one. I see some brass multiport tees for radiant heat systems but nothing with 6 or ports that are 1”. Also interested in knowing if I can connect PEX to all the poly pipe lines so it will easier to connect everything to the manifold, the thought being the PEX will have some flex to it compared to the black poly pipe.

 

[Valveman]

Probably have to make your own manifold with a hand full of brass tees and nipples.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Bannerman]

Higher flow rate with poly pipe compared to PEX. The specified diameter for each is nominal, not actual.

1" poly is 1" internal diameter is slightly greater than 1" whereas 1" PEX internal diameter is only 0.875". Although the fittings for each pipe type are normally installed internally which will further reduce the internal diameter at each fitting, poly pipe having a larger initial internal diameter, the flow rate possible, will be greater.

 

[Gett’n it done]

Probably have to make your own manifold with a hand full of brass tees and nipples.

I’ve been looking at some home made pex manifolds people posted on YT and the look pretty simple to make so i think that’s the route I’m going, a parallel loop. I’ve seen people use either brass or plastic connectors. I’m on well water that’s pretty hard and high in iron, the brass barbs I installed in the poly pipe 15 years ago have held up, a little green on the inside but no signs of pitting. So I’m thing of sticking with brass especially with them being in and outside pit. However the brass water inlet/drain valve at the bottom of my failed FP hydrant is what caused me to have to finish a 15yo project, so I’m a little skeptical of brass. Water are your thoughts on the type of fittings? Brass, plastic, or possibly SS.