Saddle Fusion Repair
Permanent Field Repairs
Small Field Repairs
If the size of the puncture damage is very small (1inch or smaller puncture on one pipe wall), a capped off Tapping Tee or High Volume Tapping Tee or patch can be saddle fused to the main over the damaged area, provided the water flow can be stopped and the repair area kept dry during the repair process(Saddle Fusion Repair Polyethylene Pipe). Before adding the patch or fitting, drill a small hole at each end of the damage to prevent the crack from propagating further. Then, butt fuse a cap on the service outlet of the Tapping Tee selected for the repair. Turn off the water and prepare the surface area around the damage for the saddle fusion process (see PPI Generic Saddle Fusion Procedure TR-41). Saddle fuse the fitting over the damaged area using the Generic Procedure and allow the joint to cool. Wait 30 minutes, turn the water back on.