Got the Uh-Oh Call Today

[Creamer]

I do not know of any drainage tile around the basement. There is a system of four drains in the basement that are connected together into what he called Michigan drains - basically rock under the concrete that let water dissipate. I had enough water in the basement the first few years we lived here that I pulled one of those out and put in a sump container and pump. No water in the basement since. Since this sump is close to where the leak was I thought maybe it was seeping into it but I checked the outlet on my sump and it had not discharged for a long time.

My water meter is by the road - about 1/4 mile from my house.

 

[Pettrix]

Most rigid and/or metallic pipes underground WILL all eventually leak. Ground movement cannot be stopped and a rigid plastic PVC line can break and galvanized metal will eventually rust and fail. Sometimes it takes 20-30 years but I've seen it happen. The harsher the climate (deep freeze thaws) the more probable it becomes.

Using flexible PEX inside of Sch 40 conduit is probably the bullet proof way to go.

 

[Creamer]

Mine has been in the ground since 1973. It was black polyethylene.

I am not as sold on PEX as many are. I have heard just as many leaks with it. Maybe it is because installers think it is more robust and so they get more careless with it.

 

[Pettrix]

Mine has been in the ground since 1973. It was black polyethylene.

I am not as sold on PEX as many are. I have heard just as many leaks with it. Maybe it is because installers think it is more robust and so they get more careless with it.

With PEX the weak link are always the connections. The tubing itself is pretty robust and tough. As long as the connections are done properly, it should be bullet proof.