If water gets to your horses by way of PVC pipe, you’ll want to keep some tools and parts on hand for leak repairs, such as
- Valves
- Fittings
- Adapters
- Primer and glue
- Sticks of pipe
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or marker
- Hacksaw
- Sandpaper or knife
Get parts for the various line sizes at your ranch (3/4″, 1″, etc). Keep these items in a dry place and away from sunlight.
Before you glue anything, make sure the parts are clean and dry. Remove rough edges from where the pipe was cut.
If the leak is underground in a straight run of pipe, you won’t be able to replace the faulty section directly. Instead, reroute the line with some elbows, to create a flexible loop that reconnects to the old pipe at the points where you first cut into it.
You can also install a tee and riser to provide a branch connection for future use.
If your system uses copper tubing, you’ll want to keep the same assortment of fittings and valves, along with a cutter, propane torch, solder, and flux. Copper tends to be more durable than PVC so you probably won’t be making many repairs. But pipe fitting and soldering take a little more skill compared to PVC.
Don’t forget to order a spare bulb for your UV unit. It should be replaced annually.
Western Horse Watchers Association 