5
Tips On New Installations
Tapping Into Your Water Source
Turn off the water at the meter. Cut into your household service line and install a system appropriate
tee, after the meter. The tee selected will depend on the type of service line piping. The cut can be
done anywhere on the line, depending on the layout of your system and the location of your first
manifold. Unless unregulated static pressure is over 80 psi, tap into the line before the household
pressure regulator. In freezing climates, you will probably be tapping into your source inside a base-
ment.
Next, install a gate or ball valve to act as your system shutoff valve. House the valve in a valve box
for easy access in below ground situations. Once this valve is installed and tested, the valve at the
meter may be left open for water usage inside the house. In freezing climates, your next step will be
to install a manual drain valve so that the water can be drained from the pipes between the zone
valves and the shut-off valve.
Install Schedule 40 PVC, thick-walled pipe up to the valves. In basement installations, you will need
to drill a hole through the wall to direct the pipe out to the valves. For convenience in "blowing out"
the system for winter, access to the line by means of a tee with a capped 1" riser may be installed at
this point.
If a backflow preventer is to be used, install it outside at the proper height.
Important:
Remember to flush the line. Turn on the water at the shutoff valve and flush the pipes
free of dirt.
Meter in House
Meter in Yard
Service to
house
Compression
Tee
Shutoff
Valve
Slope Downward
for Drainage
Shutoff
Valve
Shutoff
Valve
Water
Meter
Drain
Cap
Service
Line
from
Street
To
Control
Valves
Service
Line to
House
To
Control
Valves
Shutoff
Valve
Compression
Tee
Water
Meter
Service
Line
from
Street
Water
Shutoff
