Plumbing Help

[Junkman]

You can use a black plastic pipe that comes in a roll. I have found it in 100/250/500' rolls in the past. I was told that you can get larger rolls by special order. The "real" question, is, if it goes bad, how do you deal with that problem? In the past, they would use copper pipe and it would last almost a life time. I don't know what the life expectancy of plastic pipe is. If you are planning on this being the last home you will ever own, then I suggest that you install the black plastic inside a 1 1/2" PVC conduit. That way, you can always pull it out and replace it when it goes bad. If not, then you have to dig up the entire run with a backhoe if it springs a leak. I have had to replace my black plastic pipe in my well once in 20 years, so this might be one of those things that you don't mind gambling on. I dread the though of replacing my line from the well to the house. It was installed in the 4" drain PVC and I found that it had crushed in one area when we were digging for the house addition.. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So far, the pipe inside is still OK. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dummy]

<font color="blue"> If not, then you have to dig up the entire run with a backhoe if it springs a leak. </font> You dig up the section, add a coupler and two SS hose clamps. Not all of us have the latitudes offered by a leisurely retirement lifestyle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Depending on type and manufacturer, it's rated for between 30 years and homeowners lifetime pwpipe

 

[DiskDoctr]

Chris,

As far as the black pipe, that's the way I'd go. Check your local wholesale plumbing supply house. Don't count on Lowes for that length and $$.

As for lifespan, we have lines that are about 30 years old, and no problems.

I will recommend one thing, though. Put some soft materials in the ditch first and then cover the pipe with it before filling it in. The number one thing to watch out for is any rocks or stones that can pinch or work their way against the pipe. This kind of problem later is almost impossible to locate.

Also, once you go over 1", it gets considerably more expensive. The wall is much thicker.

Here is what I paid on 10/6/03 in Western PA.

300' 1" 160psi black plastic pipe $.24/ft = $ 72.00
250' 1.5" 160psi black plastic pipe $.60/ft = $ 172.50

Your prices may be different, but these are less than a year old to use as a guideline. This place usually runs about 10% less than Lowes.

Good luck.

-JC

 

[Egon]

Perhaps also pressure test the pipe before final filling.

Egon

 

[MarkV]

I’m with Diskdoctr when he recommends a soft material like sand to surround the pipe. Some areas require that there be a sand bed for the line to prevent problems with rocks during frost heave. Another item I always thought was worth the effort is putting in a warning tape for future digging. After backfilling the first foot or so of your trench lay in a roll of caution tape, the kind used to mark off a restricted area, before the rest of the backfill. Years from now when the location of the line is forgotten a backhoe will pull up the tape before hitting the water line.

MarkV

 

[Egon]

A locator wire could also be run with the pipe.

Egon

 

[herdfan]

Ditto on the sand or pipe-in-a-pie to avoid the rocks
A tiny hole in the pipe will be almost impossible to find, so best avoid it in the first place.

I like the idea of the caution tape in the trench. I may do that at my place!

 

[SPIKER]

When you buy that stuff the ends are sealed together, there should be a pressure INSIDE the line after setting in the sun, if no pressure there MAY be a leak in the line... it does work well though, I got 1" running from the house to the barn 160psi, there is also 100 psi but that is much thinner. look for plumbing supply houses. run some phone line over the top or get a cheap roll of electrical wire, and run that in with the pipe for finding also use the tape over the top 12" like mentioned. the sand may not be needed. you CAN do it but if you clean the bottom and use clean fill on top then it should not be amajor problem, but that is a LONG run and like others said locating a leak is dang near impossable untill it bursts... it should last 50+ years form what I;ve been told, some of them even have lifetime warrenty and others say 25 years... like the NEW PEX stuff most of it is lifetime and rest is 25+ years...

Mark M

 

[txdon]

I have 3/4" at the meter and go to 2" PVC for 2000' and up 50' elevation. No pressure problems. When installing watch out for temperature changes that affect the expansion and contraction of the PVC before you cover it up. My Dad and I laid the PVC on a cool morning and when the sun warmed up in the afternoon the PVC expanded and snaked out of the trench. We had to wait till the next morning for the PVC to contract so it would go back in the trench before we could cover it up.

 

[fractal]

My experience has been that metal water mains deliver pinholes from electrolitic or whatever action it is and plastic pipe gets eaten by varmits and torn up by roots. The plastic lined pipe that comes on big giant rolls is what is the pros seem to recommend. They back the truck up and pull as much as you need off the truck. It is probably as cheap if not cheaper in the quantity you need than segmented pipe.

You won't need more than a 5/8 meter for your house.

I seem to remember from my scuba days that 35 ft depth in fresh water is 1 atmosphere pressure so your 30-40 ft drop will be one atmosphere more pressure (15 psi or so).

60 psi is pretty close to the ideal water pressure in a house. I have 120-140 psi at the curb and have to run a regulator. The regulator on the irrigation circuits stopped working and it blew all the irrigation pipe apart faster than I could patch it. 75 is probably ok, but you might want a regulator just in case.