How to Connect Polyethylene Pipe to Water Supply Pipe

                    How to Connect Polyethylene Pipe to Water Supply Pipe

A polyethylene pipe is one of the most popular alternatives when it comes to water supply pipes. Water supply pipes are extremely important as they are used to carry water supply from the well or a water meter into your house for domestic use. Water supply pipes are connected with every home and each area has building codes that specify the kinds of water pipes that are required and how indoor plumbing should be managed.

Polyethylene pipes experience much less wear and tear and are better than metal pipes, which are not only expensive but also expand in warmer climates. If you want to connect polyethylene pipes to your main water supply line in order to direct the water to your lawn sprinklers or dishwashers, here’s how you can connect a polyethylene pipe to your water supply pipe.

Step 1 – Shutting off the Water Supply

First disconnect the water supply to the line that you will be working on. You will also have to remove part of the water supply to work and install additional fittings and pipes. Usually, this can be done by simply screwing on a connection; however in some cases, the pipes are soldered and you may need a hacksaw to remove the plumbing.

Step 2 – Attaching T-Fittings

Drain the line before you begin your work. Now, bring the T-fitting and align it with the water supply pipes. Mark the place on the water supply pipe where the T-fitting will be inserted. Now cut out the section that is marked for the insertion of the T-fitting. The output of the T-fitting should face you so that the polyethylene tubes can be inserted. Use the Teflon tape to secure the T-fitting into place.

Step 3 – Installing the Shut-off Valve

Remove the compression nut from the shut-off valve, inserting the valve into the pipe that has the threads facing the open end. Slide on the compression ring and wrap the newly inserted valve with Teflon tape. You can also use plumbing joint compounds and sealants, spreading them onto the end of the pipe before you insert the shut-off valve. Once the valve has been fixed, slide in the compression nut and tighten it. Attach the compression fittings to the other end of the valve and tighten them with your hand. Use the wrench to further tighten all the fittings. Copper shut-off valves have to be integrated with copper adapters. The adapters have to be attached with the use of threaded sealants. To attach the copper adapters, solder the copper union onto an already threaded adapter. When the union has been fixed completely, use the threaded sealants to seal the automatic shut-off valve.

Step 4 – Attaching the Polyethylene Pipe

Finally, attach the polyethylene pipe to the open end of the T-fitting. You can use threaded sealants to seal the fixture and then cover it with the Teflon tape to prevent leakages.