Burying water pipe

[muddstopper]

If I had a backhoe attachment, thats what I would use. It might take longer,but all it will cost you is time and fuel. As for trenching, most likely you can find a utility contractor that has a big enough trencher to bury your line to the depth you desire. With my little trencher with its 24in trenching depth, I can do 200ft per hr in good soil, twice as long in hard rocky soil. I suspect something like a 5000 or 6000 series ditchwitch could probably match those numbers at much greater depth. you should be able to install your lines and be done in a day. The trencher would cost more, but once its done, you wont have to carry buckets anymore.

 

[Budweiser John]

Also for Budweiser John:

DeWitt, eh? I was raised on a farm a mile and a half NE of Fowler, used to work at Oldsmobile in Lansing. Drove through DeWitt every day.

Wow, small world story. Although our post office is Dewitt South Riley is just through the section from us.
Almost with in crawling distance

 

[jimpen]

At some point I'm planning on moving an old steel frame building and turning it into a true wood/work shop.

My thinking is that when I do it I'm going to run power and water from the house. I don't have a basement, but my plan is to run a 4" or 6" heavy duty PVC pipe out as a conduit about four feet deep and run the water pipes, electric and several strings through it to the shop.

The idea is that if I ever want to pull something else out to the shop I can. Between the depth and "air space" the water would probably never freeze, or at worst let it drip in the winter.

I'm going to have to do the trenching with my backhoe. But that is why I bought it in the first place.

And if your selling the property in a few years a barn with water and electric can probably add a few dollars to the sales price.

 

[jenkinsph]

At some point I'm planning on moving an old steel frame building and turning it into a true wood/work shop.

My thinking is that when I do it I'm going to run power and water from the house. I don't have a basement, but my plan is to run a 4" or 6" heavy duty PVC pipe out as a conduit about four feet deep and run the water pipes, electric and several strings through it to the shop.

The idea is that if I ever want to pull something else out to the shop I can. Between the depth and "air space" the water would probably never freeze, or at worst let it drip in the winter.

I'm going to have to do the trenching with my backhoe. But that is why I bought it in the first place.

And if your selling the property in a few years a barn with water and electric can probably add a few dollars to the sales price.

That would be a train wreck running electric and water in the same conduit. Much better to run the electric in a separate electric conduit and I would also point out that it would be far cheaper to buy 2" electric conduit for power, 2" conduit separate for communications and 1" pex in a sleeve instead of a 6" conduit. These conduits need to be spaced properly too not bundled up together.

 

[TomSeller]

That would be a train wreck running electric and water in the same conduit. Much better to run the electric in a separate electric conduit and I would also point out that it would be far cheaper to buy 2" electric conduit for power, 2" conduit separate for communications and 1" pex in a sleeve instead of a 6" conduit. These conduits need to be spaced properly too not bundled up together.

Agree. You do not want these together.

 

[ENC]

If you put the actual water line in a bigger conduit the air will act as a heat well to help against freezing. Costs more in material but you won't have to dig quite as deep and it is easy to run a new line if you ever have to. Get a couple young kids to use shovels to excavate under the other ditch after you have dug both sides with your backhoe.

 

[rutwad]

Reminds me a lot of my neighbor. These "shortcuts" are exactly that--- short. Then redoing them ends up costing a lot more than doing it right the first time. Plus things always fail when you need them most. And this is the direct opposite of my father's "overkill" approach that I was brought up with.

Sir, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you remind me of my father-in-law...he wants to do everything half-assed.

Obviously you use the barn durning the winter, and I am guessing that Maine winters are no picnic. No idea how old you are, but you are older today than you were yesterday - and at some point - hauling buckets of water during that long cold winter will be too much.

Rent a trencher or a mini excavator (or find someone who has one and barter some services). Install a frost free hydrant and be done with it. Make it easier on yourself! (You are not a spring chicken anymore).

Ok, preaching over.

If you are like my FIL, you are gonna do it your way anyhow. This is the point where I call him a hard headed penny pincher - then make fun of him every time he complains about hauling water in the cold. (we get along quite well for two hard headed guys)

Good luck sir

 

[Threepoint]

Six-month's old thread. Maybe the OP will jump back in and report on what he's finally decided/done. Probably already had a few hard freezes in Downeast Maine by now.

 

[PHPaul]

I'm procrastinating. No hard freezes yet which is only mildly unusual.

I've lucked into a good-paying part time job and will be tucking cash away all winter. I will likely bury a proper water line and frost-proof hydrant in the Spring. I'll dig my own trench, but I'll rent a track-hoe to do it.

Digging a 4 foot deep trench with my 3PH hoe on the JD750 involves getting off and moving the tractor every 3 feet of trench. More of a PITA than I'm willing to deal with.

 

[Threepoint]

I'm procrastinating. No hard freezes yet which is only mildly unusual.

I've lucked into a good-paying part time job and will be tucking cash away all winter. I will likely bury a proper water line and frost-proof hydrant in the Spring. I'll dig my own trench, but I'll rent a track-hoe to do it.

Digging a 4 foot deep trench with my 3PH hoe on the JD750 involves getting off and moving the tractor every 3 feet of trench. More of a PITA than I'm willing to deal with.

Sounds like a plan with the track-hoe. Plant the utilities deep and dry, and you'll thank yourself everytime you turn on the hydrant in January. A couple of years ago I finally buried water line and power cable to a frost-free hydrant and automatic stock waterer at our barn after years of managing with 300 feet of garden hose and a heavy extension cord. Same ditch but separated by at least 12" of dirt per local code. This greatly improved the quality of life. :thumbsup: Our winters are milder and shorter than yours, and the hose ran downhill so draining after each use was not hard. But it still got very old and cold.