Recently in NYC a new homeowner had become aware of a problem with his water pressure after living in the house for one week. He first called a local plumber to check the plumbing in his house. The plumber diagnosed and determined that all of the internal piping was in full working order and had been replaced a few years prior.
It was now suggested that the owner call Harris Water Main to analyze the piping on the outside of the house. Harris first obtained city records (AKA “tapping records”) to determine the size, material and age of the pipe from the house to the city water main. Another very important piece of information was to determine the size of the tap connection; it is common that the tap is undersized and must be updated. The tap size regulates the amounts of volume and water pressure from the city main. A licensed plumber will use the NYC DEP sizing table to assist in determining the size of water main and tap required for the new installation. The primary factors used are the amount of plumbing fixtures in the building, rate of flow AKA gallons per minute and the distance of the city water main from the house.
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After reviewing the city tap records and the DEP sizing chart, Harris quickly determined that a new 1 ¼” copper water main was now required in replacement of the existing ¾” lead water main. It was also required that a new 1” tap connection was required to replace the existing 5/8” tap connection. At this point the new tap was scheduled for installation by the DEP later in the week, along with the new water line installed by Harris Water.
First Harris began digging over the city main where the existing 5/8” tap was located, it is important to have the city main exposed and ready for the DEP to install the new tap upon arrival. The tap installation is always time sensitive once scheduled with DEP. This requires the plumber to schedule all prior excavating and preparation of the city water main in advance.
Harris digs for city main |
DEP installs tap |
DEP arrived on site as scheduled and installed the tap in 15 minutes. Harris now had to plug the old tap by cutting the threads, this disallows for any future use of the old tap connection.
Two other holes are now made in the street and on the property for the new water main installation.
New water main install |
copper main & tap connection |
Watch here for more details on the water main installation process
Harris Water completed the water main installation within 8 hours, resolving all previous water pressure problems throughout the entire home.
