Running a water line outside above ground

[dadster4]

I would rethink "and the only part that's underground isn't really accessible for running water lines outside"...inconvenient, difficult, or impossible? Popping through a block wall 3' below grade is still the easiest solution. Otherwise under the footing is the way to go, keeping in mind that the edge of the footing will be 8" to 10" out from the inside wall.

 

[joeu235]

Use PEX on the part above ground and insulate. PEX can withstand some freeze cycles.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If your drawing is accurate I would dig under the floor from the outside then drill a hole thru the floor from inside the basement. This would put all your waterline underground and minimize chances of freezing.

Not being familiar with PA, it does get cold enough outside to freeze there right? If so I would avoid an exposed line.

I would also..

 

[mmancuso13]

The frost line is between 30”-40” depending on where you live in PA.

Bury your line below this or be prepared to redo it annually when it freezes...

 

[jimmyj]

If your drawing is accurate I would dig under the floor from the outside then drill a hole thru the floor from inside the basement. This would put all your waterline underground and minimize chances of freezing.

Not being familiar with PA, it does get cold enough outside to freeze there right? If so I would avoid an exposed line.

For sure, I've done exactly this and haven't had any issues even here where our frost penetration would be deeper than in PA. Awesome avatar by the way.

 

[oosik]

Neighbor brought a water line out of his basement and ran it 135 feet to his barn. The first 20 feet was in a fairly shallow ditch. About 2 1/2 feet deep. We laid a double layer( two 2" layers ) of sheet urethane insulation down the first 20 feet of the ditch prior to backfilling. The remaining ditch ( 115' ) was 6' deep - plenty for our area. That was five years ago - still works fine.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think your best solution is to insulate it well with closed cell foam over a thermostat controlled heat tape for the portion of line that is not below the freeze line. You are looking at 4-5 feet of heat tape which if put on a thermostat control will activate only when the temps get below freezing so minimal electrical use.

 

[oosik]

I think Gary is dead nuts on regarding the insulation. I've had bad results - frozen water lines - relying on heat tape. Maybe its improved but back in the day you had to be very careful not to overlap it on itself and we always taped the heat tape directly to the water line. This prevented overlapping and distance preventing sufficient heating.

 

[4570Man]

What happens to your heat tape when the power goes out in a snow storm?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have run it inside a 3-4" PVC pipe with doubled closed cell insulation. Slice the ells on a band saw so you can foam at the ends. Tape the ell on and fill with foam through 1/2" holes top and bottom. You will need to get the insulation at a regular plumbing supply as the hardware stores do not have the larger sizes to be able to double up thickness. Heat tape would be some more insurance.

Ron