Q: How do you print pages from the web catalog?
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| Individual pages can be printed from any of the three catalogs on our site, but the techniques different for each. From the Interactive Product Catalog (“Product” menu) – click the “Print” button in the left pane, then make appropriate selections in the pop-up box. One or two pages can be printed depending upon the selections made. Note – the print quality will be useable, but for best quality, print from the catalog PDFs in the “Download” area of the site – see next. From the catalog PDF files (“Download/Catalog PDFS” menu) – if viewing a PDF containing a single page, simply click “File/Print” or the print icon in the upper left corner of the browser window. If viewing a PDF consisting of several pages: 1) Scroll to display the page desired, 2) Click “File/Print...” at the upper left corner of the browser window (don’t use the printer icon, or the “Right Click” feature on the mouse) – notice that you need to click the “Print...” option with three dots if more than one print option is offered, 3) In the pop-up box, under “Page Range” click the button for “Current Page” then click “Ok” – change the “Number of Pages” if you need more than one copy. |
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Q: What is the best way to find products on the Mueller web site?
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| There are several ways, and which is used might depend upon your knowledge of Mueller products, or the type of information you need. If looking for general information, you might start by typing in a search term – for instance “hydrant” - in the search window at the top of the web page. This will bring up a list of all the general literature pertaining to our fire hydrants – but it will not include catalog information. If you are new to the waterworks industry, our interactive water system graphic is a good starting point as it puts all our products into visual context with a panoramic picture of a typical water distribution system, and it links into our interactive catalog – click the “Application” menu item on the left margin of the site. If catalog information is your priority, there are three ways to view our catalog. One way is to click the “Products” menu tab, and enter our interactive catalog and its two-page spread presentation and page turning feature that simulates a printed catalog. Type and word in a product name into its search window (this is not the one at the top of the web page mentioned above) or a catalog/part number and links to all its occurrences in the catalog will appear. Or just browse by turning pages. If you know where in the catalog to look, access the other two viewing methods by clicking the “Download” menu tab, then the “Catalog PDFs” menu item. From here you have two choices: download a PDF containing all the pages in a given section, or download a PDF for a specific page. For PDFs of complete sections, select “Browsing Catalog (Complete Sections).” This opens a menu listing the product sections of the catalog – corresponding to the section tabs of our print catalog. Download a section PDF and scroll through all its pages to view everything we offer for that product line. Individual pages can be printed (see FAQ “How do you print pages from the web catalog?”). Or the third viewing option is to download a PDF of a specific page. The page PDFs are listed in sequence by Sec/Pg number and title. |
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Q: How can leakage during a service line pressure test at 150-200 psi be best avoided?
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| Many systems still specify the use of ground key valves in service lines, which are only rated to 100 psi. Testing new lists at 200 psi, even 150 psi push these valves to their limit and sometimes leakage can cause a test failure. Using Mueller 300® Ball Valves, which are rated at 300 psi can help assure successful testing. Mueller® Oriseal® Valves are plug style valves with O-ring seals, and are rated at 175 psi, and offer an alternative. When using ground key valves, it is helpful to rotate or “cycle” the key to redistribute the grease when installing the valve. Never tamper with the nut on the bottom of the key, as in Mueller valves, this nut is factory tightened to a precise torque, and loosening it can change the valve’s pressure holding capability. |
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Q: When installing a fire hydrant with connection restraint, how can having bolts underneath the pipe where they are hard to reach be avoided?
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| Instead of using a standard MJ connection with an add-on bolted restraint system, which can leave several bolts out of reach underneath the pipe, use the Mueller® AquaGrip® system, which includes an MJ-type connection and pipe restraint without any bolts underneath the pipe. Plus, the AquaGrip systems involves far fewer bolts to tighten when it’s installed. |
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Q: When a hydrant is hard to open, what can be done?
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| First, make sure the hydrant is well lubricated – if it’s a Mueller® hydrant made 1954 or after, this is easily done by removing the oil fill plug and adding oil if necessary according to hydrant maintenance instructions. If lubrication isn’t the issue, it could be the hydrant has been over tightened and the stem bent. In this case, the stem will have to be replaced. If the hydrant is old or has not been exercised in sometime, corrosion or build up of deposits in the main valve could be a problem in which case, the main valve will have to be serviced. If it is an especially old hydrant, over fifty years old for instance, sometimes the best solution is to replace it. |
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Q: How can the main valve of a hydrant be broken loose when it cannot be removed with the seat wrench?
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| Such a situation can occur if the hydrant has been left idle for many years without annual exercise, or if the main valve is brass and it is threaded directly into an iron mounting. Mueller hydrants have brass-on-brass main valve mountings to help avoid corrosion that can occur with brass-on-iron. For a main valve assembly that cannot be loosened using a seat wrench, try pumping out all accumulated water, pour in one to two liters of a cola soft drink, and let it soak – overnight might be necessary. Another technique is to drop dry ice into the main valve area to cool and shrink the brass parts. |
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Q: A fire hydrant or a gate valve isn’t working – where do we start?
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| Consult our fire hydrant troubleshooting guide on our web site for a step by step process to find and fix most problems. For our gate valve troubleshooting guide. |
Click the links below for more information:
Troubleshooting Charts
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Q: What is the easiest way to install two meters, one for domestic water and the other for irrigation or fire protection?
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| Mueller makes dual meter setters and boxes that accommodate connecting two meters to the service line. |
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Q: When removing the bonnet from a Mueller® hydrant, what’s the easiest way to avoid clipping or disturbing the stem O-rings?
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| Placing a special brass sleeve, part number A-368, made for this purpose over the stem threads before removing the bonnet will not only protect the stem O-rings, it also retains the oil in the reservoir and keeps it from running down into the hydrant barrel. |
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Q: What is the difference between the Mueller® E-5 and D-5 machine?
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| Since the machines are very similar in construction, it comes down to deciding which machine has the range needed. The D-5 machine accommodates up to 2” dia. cutters – 3/8” larger than the E-5 machine. Both are rugged machines rated to 500 psi and can be hand or power operated. |
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Q: What is the easiest way to install a hydrant when the water main is very deep in the ground?
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| The Mueller® Vertical AquaGrip® Hydrant allows the use of any length of standard ductile iron pipe to be used to extend from the hydrant shoe directly down to the main’s level. A companion AquaGrip Elbow can be used at the lower end of the DI pipe to make the 90º turn for the run to the main. Using the vertical AquaGrip hydrant also allows one standard bury depth to be stocked for use with any main depth in the system. |
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Q: How can a high amount of “unaccounted for water” be combated?
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| Aside from repairing leaks in the water distribution system, the most obvious step – and Mueller makes the pipe repair products to do this, an often overlooked reason for water loss is pilferage. Installing the Mueller® Hydrant Defender® device on hydrants prone to pilferage can effectively block water theft, and with the added benefit of preventing vandalism and theft of hydrant parts. |
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Q: How do we go about troubleshooting an inoperable Mueller® machine or power operator?
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| Mueller machines and power operators have been designed to be rugged and with reasonable care, provide many years of reliable service. Normal in-service wear and tear can take a toll, however, and we offer a repair/rebuild service for certain machines and tools (see “Repair Services” section of this web site for details) to restore them to “almost new” condition. Still, there are a number of things you can do to troubleshoot, and in some instances, perform simple repairs. For details, click the link below to download information about troubleshooting several models of machines and power operators. |
Click the links below for more information:
Repair Services
Equipment Questions & Troubleshooting
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Q: Why might a machine installed corporation valve leak or even blow-out?
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| When drilling and tapping the main using a power operated B-101 Drilling & Tapping Machine, the Automatic Feed of the power operator must be disengaged from the machine’s Feed Yoke when the drill has finished making its hole in the pipe (but before the tapping section of the tool engages the pipe wall).
If it is not disengaged, the threads in the pipe wall will be mis-shaped or even stripped – the corporation valve might appear to be in place and might even hold for a period of time, but can eventually leak or pull out. A “tapping line” is provided on the B-101 machine boring bar and instructions in the manual (form 8910 paragraph E-A-3) describe how to use this line to determine when to disengage the Automatic Feed.
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Q: When buying a new Mueller® Drilling or Drilling & Tapping Machine, will the old machine’s tools work?
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| Although you should verify such compatibility with your Mueller Sales Person when ordering the machine, in general the following is true:
Mega-Lite® Machine cutters are compatible with CL-12 tools
C1 Series cutters are compatible with CC tools
E-5 and E-4 machine tools are compatible.
D-5 and D-4 machine tools are compatible.
D and E series cutters are interchangeable, but the adapters are not.
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Q: How can hydrants be used to flush new construction water mains?
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| Start with the first hydrant nearest where the new main connects into the system, and work toward the farthest hydrant. Open the first hydrant as fast as possible until fully open, and allow it to run for five minutes, then close it fully. Do this on successive hydrants until the entire system of pipes has been flushed. |
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Q: Who makes Mueller® Products?
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| We make our products in our own plants here in the U.S.
Brass goods – Brass foundry and manufacturing in Decatur, Illinois
Fire Hydrants – Iron foundry and manufacturing in Albertville, Alabama
Gate Valves – Iron foundry and manufacturing in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Stainless Steel Pipe Repair Products – Manufacturing (including stainless steel fabrication and rubber molding) in Cleveland, Tennessee
Butterfly Valves – Manufacturing in Aurora, Illinois (castings from our iron foundry in China)
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Q: I know you make an item, but can’t find it in your catalog – what can I do?
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| If a search of our on-line catalog failed to find it, contact an authorized Mueller Distributor in your area. You can find the location on our web site www.muellercompany.com/water. Or contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-423-1323 for assistance. |
Click the links below for more information:
US Locations Search
International Location Search
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Q: A new employee needs to learn the products in a water distribution system – can you help us train him?
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| We can help train in several ways. Our web site features an interactive water distribution system diagram showing where the products we make are used, with pictures and descriptions. Each year our training school visits distributor locations in different areas of the continental US. Check to see if it is scheduled in your area. If you do not see a schedule close by, contact your local authorized Mueller Distributor to discuss your interest and the possibility of having the van in your area. We also have a number of videos on our web site providing in-depth overviews of several products, including fire hydrants, fire hydrant security, machines, and meter pits in the Download area. |
Click the links below for more information:
Water Diagram
Training Program
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Q: I need a product to solve a problem in our system, but cannot find anything that’s suitable – can you make it?
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| We have a special form on our web site you can use to describe what you have in mind. We’ll be glad to take a look at your idea. You can submit the form on-line, or print a copy to FAX to us your sketch . |
Click the links below for more information:
Request Form
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Q: Who owns Mueller Co.?
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| Mueller Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mueller Water Products, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Mueller Water Products manufactures and markets products and services that are used in the transmission and distribution of safe, clean drinking water and in water treatment facilities. The Company's broad product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters and ductile iron pipe, which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries. Mueller Water Products operates primarily through three segments: Mueller Co., U.S. Pipe and Anvil. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MWA. For more information about Mueller Water Products, Inc., please visit www.muellerwaterproducts.com. |
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Q: How long has Mueller Co. been in business?
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| Mueller Co. was founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1857, making it more than 150 years old. To read more about the company’s history, or to see some of our milestones, click the links below. |
Click the links below for more information:
History Book
Milestones
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