"digging" a trench

AlanB · Mar 30, 2004

\"digging\" a trench

I have to put in a water line, I am thinking 1" PVC probably 12" deep probably 200'

I was thinking of a sub soiler or a middle buster from TSC / Rural king, making multiple passes, then removing the broken soil with a trenching shovel.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions.

It would be $100 but I would have the tool still if I wanted to do more later.

KiotiJohn · Mar 30, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

The only suggestion I can make is that you put it at 24" below the surface for more protection against breakage and freezing. I believe that is the code requirement in my jurisdiction and it makes sense for the reasons I stated. I see no reason the sub soiler wouldn't work with, as you say, multiple passes. My brother has used a similar tactic with good results. John

DaveNay · Mar 30, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

Ahhh.....the simplicity of living in warmer parts of the country /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Around here I believe that code is 36" and most people I know prefer to go to 40"-44" jsut to be safe. I believe MN code is 48", and around the Canadian border is as much as 60"-72"

Dave

JWE · Mar 30, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

Here is a good step by step put together by WVBill on how to lay pipe using a subsoiler. I plan to use his tecnique to lay about 200 foot of 1 inch poly pipe this summer. I will put the pipe about 10 -14 inches deep. I will only use it for water supply in the summer. My property is on a slope so I won't have any problem draining the lines.

Laying pipe the WVBill way!

Cliff_Johns · Mar 30, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

( Here is a good step by step put together by WVBill on how to lay pipe using a subsoiler. )

I had missed that post. Thanks for the link. His is a
wonderfuly slick solution.

Cliff

Knight9 · Mar 30, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

( I believe MN code is 48", and around the Canadian border is as much as 60"-72"
)

Wheww...imagine how deep you'd have to dig once you were well into Canada! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kevin

ronjhall · Mar 31, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

 I was thinking of a sub soiler or a middle buster from TSC / Rural king, 

Alan
Consider the Middle Buster. It has a longer shank which will allow you to dig deeper. A Sub Soiler blade can be put on the Middle Buster.

KiotiJohn · Mar 31, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

JWE, thanks for posting that thread from WVBill. That method is going to save me a lot of trouble. Thanks again, John

WVBill · Mar 31, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

JWE
Thanks! I was reading through the thread and thinking "I'll go search for my post " and you've done it for me!

I must note, however that the original idea came from another TBN member - I think I just documented the process in pictures.

Junkman · Mar 31, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

One thing to consider is putting 2" schedule 40 PVC pipe into the ground and then pulling 1" water pipe through it. That way, if it needs to be replace at any time in the future it is a quick and easy job to do. If you check at the electrical supply house, you will find that you can purchase PCS very inexpensively and the total additional cost is very little. I only wish that I had done this when I installed my water line from my well 20 years ago. If I ever have to replace it, it is going to be a major job because it goes under my garage floor and the only way into the cellar now is to go all the way around to the back of the house and that is going to be a lot of digging, lawn repair and expense. At the time, I though that I didn't want to spend the additional $50 with all the other expenses of building the house..... now I realize that it was a small amount to pay for the convenience. Also, the price of PVC has come down considerably today, so it will cost you a lot less.

rambler · Mar 31, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

( ( I believe MN code is 48", and around the Canadian border is as much as 60"-72"
)

Wheww...imagine how deep you'd have to dig once you were well into Canada! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kevin )

Just to be techincal, here in southern Minnesota code is 5' deep, and they prefer 6' especially in compacted (under a driveway where snow is removed) areas. Frostline is 3' deep most every year, frequently goes 4'. This year we had little snow & dry ground & it got -28F a couple nights in a row, that pushed the 5' limit quite hard, a lot of waterlines got dug up this spring. I'm forunate to have livestock so the water runs quite a bit, helps to keep things moving.

--->Paul

keeney · Apr 1, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

Yes, code might only be 5' or 6', but it is common practice to run the water line out the bottom of the basement floor which puts it at 8 or 9' deep.

The line at the street is also usually deeper than 5'. At my house it was about 10' deep.

It cost me almost as much to dig the water line as it did to excavate the whole basement. By the time they were done, they had a 10' deep, 10'-wide at the bottom trench about 120' long.

Took about 15 minutes to unroll the copper line and connect it. Then they spent the whole afternoon putting the dirt back in the trench, compacting it in 1' lifts.

- Rick

SPIKER · Apr 1, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

KENNY: I think I would have had them run about 4 lines at that same time, just cap the others at the end so they wouldn't have to dig up the lenght only the road end for a new line LOL

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

yellowdog99502 · Apr 1, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

Great idea!

Anyone ever tried to install something a bit larger? Say a 4" field drain line? Slope on the corrugated flex could be an issue unless the ground is working for you.

From what I have seen on the mfg. sites, the shoe on a middle buster is around 14 inches wide. Might have to make a few passes to get any depth.

Any 'been there, done that's' out there?

Junkman · Apr 2, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

( Great idea!

Anyone ever tried to install something a bit larger? Say a 4" field drain line? Slope on the corrugated flex could be an issue unless the ground is working for you.

..........Any 'been there, done that's' out there? )

I personally have never used the "field drain line", and I wouldn't use it for anything that I would want to snake anything through. It isn't conducive to pulling. The schedule 40 PVC is smooth on the inside and if it is properly coupled, there are no ridges to catch what you are pulling through it. This isn't the type of job to skimp on materials on. Also, it should be set in sand so rocks don't break it

Buck · Apr 3, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

I copied him last summer, what fun it was. Thinking about extending the line another 300 ft to water another garden this summer.

Slick it is /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

yellowdog99502 · Apr 4, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

Junkman,

Wasn't planning on anything pulling anything through the drain tile. I have a few areas that need some drainage work. Been trying to come up with an easy way to dig the trench with the tractor.

Mainah · Apr 5, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

My back deck and some of the foundation took a big hit from frost heaving this winter...we didn't have much snow this winter. I've heard that some places here in Western Maine had frost down 13 feet this winter...no wonder stuff moved around....

DaveInColorado · Apr 6, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

I think I'll try this in a couple of weeks. I'm also in a freezing area but am lucky to have the backyard on a slope. It will naturally drain out the lowest sprinkler and I like the idea of putting some RV antifreeze in the line for winter. The sub-soiler that I first bought was 4" too long for my little Kubota so I returned it and bought a middle buster then screwed a subsoiler end on it. I can only go 10-12" deep. Any other method requires renting a trencher! The problem with renting is that I have to trench everything in a day, then put pipe in before all the ditches cave in. The last time I did that it took me 6 weekends! Never again. I'll trench with subsoiler and put pipe in using Bill's method.

RobS · Apr 6, 2004

Re: \"digging\" a trench

 It will naturally drain out the lowest sprinkler and I like the idea of putting some RV antifreeze in the line for winter. 

Careful with that idea Dave. The RV anti-freeze I use kills the grass if I spill any /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif