Blog

Drought water levels visible on rock formation
07Mar

Cool, Clear Water: How the State of the Aquifers Affects Water Quality

Everyone has seen some type of drought over the years, whether it's just a really dry summer or an unmitigated lack of rain that goes on for months on end. It's easy to see the lack of water in a drought. Lawns are brown, creek beds are dried up and washing your car in your driveway will put you on the lecture list from the neighborhood environmental activist. But while it's easy to see these signs, one area we often don't consider is the state of the aquifers.

What is an aquifer?

An aquifer is a naturally-occurring...

By Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Red Hed flange adapters
02Oct

Proper Use of Common Connection Fittings with Lead Flange Adapters

When you're in the water utility industry, you can see all manner of fittings to adapt older pipe to newer systems. Threaded, compression and flared fittings are all common connections to run across. But how do you connect pipes to these fittings to get a proper fit that will stand up well to pressure and time? Here's a quick look at the most common fitting types and how to ensure you get a proper seal.

Threaded

Threaded connections are either male, with threads on the outside, or female, with threads on the inside. They work well...

By Lead Free Brass1 Comment
Read more...
Custom Made Sign
24Sep

Get the Right Pipe Stand Solutions with Red Hed’s Custom Pipe Supports

When you need a quality pipe stand that provides solid support but goes above and beyond to meet your project's specific needs while remaining affordable, Red Hed's Custom Pipe Supports are here to help. With a range of different options available to meet your project's requirements, we can help you get underway in no time.With over three decades of experience manufacturing our high-quality Redi-Jack pipe supports, the professionals at Team Red Hed are ready to help adapt these strong supports to your project's specific needs. Designed in sizes to support pipes from 2" to 24", this simple design...

By Plumbing, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Tap repair machining
14Jan

Old Tap Machine Not Working? Refurbish it with Team Red Hed

When your tap machine stops working, your crew is faced with a problem. With the average age of equipment in the waterworks industry at three decades or more, it's no surprise that your machinery has issues. You have options beyond scrapping old machinery or expensive replacements. We'll give you several options to get your tap machine back to work. Our full machine shop makes it possible for us to do anything from small repairs to complete rebuilds.

Standard Tap Machines

Among the standard direct-tap machines we rebuild are the Romac B-Too,

By Tools, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Redi-Jack Pipe Support banner with product image and Red Hed logo
28Nov

What’s the Deal with Pipe Stands: History, Design and Issues

Over the years, pipe stands have become an important feature for many water utility systems. But what's the history of these stands, why have they been designed as they are and what are some potential issues they face? Here's a quick rundown on pipe stands and what you need to do to keep them functioning well for your water utility.The original pipe stands were probably very crude devices used to meet a range of needs. Simple stones would be stacked or a log would have a notch hewn into it and the pipe placed on top to be supported....

By Plumbing, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Red Shut Off Valve
26Nov

What’s the Difference Between a Meter Valve, Curb Stop and Service Valves?

When you need to install a shut-off valve between your water supply and your home or business, it can be very confusing deciding exactly which type of valve you need. Your water utility may not make things much clearer, discussing meter valves, curb stops and service valves as being among the options that are placed in line on your water supply lines. Fortunately, we've cleared up the issue for you in this post. Here's a quick rundown of each type of valve, what it does, where it's located and why it's used in your water supply line system.

By Curb Stops, Meters, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
HDPE meter pits
26Oct

Do you Really Need a Thermal Coil Pit Instead of a Standard Pit?

If your town specifies thermal coil pits for meters and service valves, do you really need them? Thermal coil pits have become a common specification in a number of towns in cold climates, but they're not really needed. But how are these types of pits different and why is it okay to argue for the use of a standard pit in areas where the specifications call for a thermal coil pit? Here's a quick comparison with more information to get you started. Generally speaking, a demand for thermal coil pits only come from an instance where a standard...

By Meters, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Redi-Jack Pipe Support banner with product image and Red Hed logo
15Aug

Redi-Jack Pipe Supports Do it Better: Everything You Want to Know

I've got to admit, I've got a redneck house. When we first moved in, the drain lines needed work, and we discovered that they were held in place with a few rocks stacked underneath them. If your water utility looks like this, you KNOW that it needs some help! But even if you're using standard pipe supports, you know the problems they can lead to. Fortunately, Red Hed's Redi-Jack pipe supports provide superior results and performance. Here's a quick look at how they beat the competition hands-down.When you need a basic design that delivers, Redi-Jack pipe supports work well in...

By Plumbing, Waterworks0 Comments
Read more...
Miscellaneous brass fittings
09Jul

Compression vs. Flared: When to Use Each Type for Brass

When you're in the field, you run across some different connections. But two of the most commonly used for smaller lines include compression fittings and flared fittings. But which type of outlet will work best for your specific situation and what's the difference between them? Here's a quick look to help get you started.

Fittings:

Generally speaking, compression outlets are used for water and compressed air lines, where slight leakage isn't going to cause too much of a problem. Flared outlets are used for gas and high-pressure lines, where even a little leakage can cause major...

By Service Box Accessories0 Comments
Read more...
Dewatering pump
01Jun

How to Improve Your Dewatering Process with Space Saver Flanges

Whoever said there can never be too much of a good thing was obviously a hopeless optimist. When a construction site, flood zone or other area has been inundated with water, removing it is vital to allow safe access and further progress in that area. Dewatering helps to make this happen for a wide range of situations, but it can be complex when you're dealing with a wide range of different fitting sizes and limited space to place them. Fortunately, Team Red Hed has the perfect solution. Here's how our space saver flanges can help...

By Service Box Accessories0 Comments
Read more...