Qapla
Veteran Member
If you don't have rocks or roots to contend with, jetting 30' is not difficult. I also do irrigation and we jet under driveways on a regular basis.
If you can get to the old pipe and you plan on using the same size pipe, using the old one to pull a new one is definitely an option. Have done this many times also.
In fact, you can usually pull one pipe size larger if needed without too much difficulty. The key is to make sure you pull slow, steady and smoothly.
If you decide to pull or jet a new pipe "over" the old pipe, using the old pipe for a guide, keep in mind that there is most likely a fitting in that run if it is longer than 20' and that the fitting needs to be able to fit into the the new pipe size.
Also, if you do jet a new pipe over the old, you will need to cap the old pipe on the end you are jetting from or the water will just run through the old pipe and not remove any dirt.
To test the ease of pulling a new pipe with the old, first expose about 5 or ten feet of the old pipe from the end you will feed the new pipe from. Then, expose the old pipe from the end you will pull from and attach whatever you plan to pull with to the old pipe (of course, you will have to cut the old pipe on both ends so it is free to move). By leaving 5 or ten feet expose you can do a test pull before connecting the new pipe to see if it will pull without damaging your new pipe and without causing the old one to "disappear" under the driveway.
If the old pipe will move when you pull on it, the new pipe will follow it right through. Even if the old pipe is Gal. you an use a threaded fitting to connect plastic to it and still use it to pull.
If you can get to the old pipe and you plan on using the same size pipe, using the old one to pull a new one is definitely an option. Have done this many times also.
In fact, you can usually pull one pipe size larger if needed without too much difficulty. The key is to make sure you pull slow, steady and smoothly.
If you decide to pull or jet a new pipe "over" the old pipe, using the old pipe for a guide, keep in mind that there is most likely a fitting in that run if it is longer than 20' and that the fitting needs to be able to fit into the the new pipe size.
Also, if you do jet a new pipe over the old, you will need to cap the old pipe on the end you are jetting from or the water will just run through the old pipe and not remove any dirt.
To test the ease of pulling a new pipe with the old, first expose about 5 or ten feet of the old pipe from the end you will feed the new pipe from. Then, expose the old pipe from the end you will pull from and attach whatever you plan to pull with to the old pipe (of course, you will have to cut the old pipe on both ends so it is free to move). By leaving 5 or ten feet expose you can do a test pull before connecting the new pipe to see if it will pull without damaging your new pipe and without causing the old one to "disappear" under the driveway.
If the old pipe will move when you pull on it, the new pipe will follow it right through. Even if the old pipe is Gal. you an use a threaded fitting to connect plastic to it and still use it to pull.
