Line taps, also known as hot or wet taps, provide access to a pressurized pipe without disrupting pressure or service upstream of the tap. A pressure tap is first made by installing a sleeve that is capable of retaining the internal pressure of the water main around the pipe, such as Hydra-Stop’s Insta-Valve insertion valve or HSF 250 line stop fitting. A temporary gate valve is attached to the sleeve, through which the tap is performed.
Hydra-Stop’s revolutionary, lightweight hot tap machine makes line taps on water and wastewater lines quick and easy. Superior engineering, rugged construction and fewer moving parts, allow the Hydra-Tapper to operate without costly and annoying malfunctions and its lightweight design also eliminates the need for the expensive blocking and bracing often required to support traditional heavy tapping equipment. The Hydra-Tapper hot tap (also known as a wet tap) machine makes it easy to turn an inexperienced worker into a professional line tapper.
Hydra-Stop manufactures hot tapping machines that can perform pressure taps on pipes from 4″ through 20″ diameter.
While tapping is generally defined as the cutting of a hole in an existing water or sewer main, tapping can also be done on pipelines that carry other fluids. A tapping machine (like the Hydra-Tapper) is used to cut a hole into a pipe made from a range of materials — such as cast iron, concrete, PVC and others. After the tap is complete, a line stop can be implemented, or a branch line added.
