Where is my frostline

[Builder]

Hey group. Does anyone know how I can figure out or where I can look up approximately how deep my frostline is? I need to dig a trench for some waterlines to run to a remote hose spicket, and from what I'm reading, I need to put it at least 6" below my frostline. I'm in south eastern PA. Any ideas?

Thank you

I'm a builder and live nearby in Chester County. It's 36". I have to deal with it all the time.

 

[RayCo]

Thank you to everyone for the feedback. The line is going to be run to a remote garden area for watering purposes, so I guess it'll only be used half the year or so.

 

[RayCo]

I'm a builder and live nearby in Chester County. It's 36". I have to deal with it all the time.

Thanks Builder. Do you mean that you dig 36" to get below the frostline, or that the frostline is at 36", meaning I'd dig at least 42"?

Thank you

 

[Builder]

Thanks Builder. Do you mean that you dig 36" to get below the frostline, or that the frostline is at 36", meaning I'd dig at least 42"?

Thank you

Sorry for the delayed reply. What I mean is that anything below 36" is considered "safe" for even extreme frost conditions in our climate zone. I've never seen frost below 18", so I think at 36" your safe. 42" just means more digging, but might be something to consider if the area in which you're digging is very shaded and has a northern/easter exposure (gets very little sun). Even then, I'd be surprised if you had frost below 36" in the worst imagineable winter.

 

[shvl73]

Thank you to everyone for the feedback. The line is going to be run to a remote garden area for watering purposes, so I guess it'll only be used half the year or so.

If its only going to be used in the growing season, couldn't it be blown out to winter over in the off season?
I used to do that at my other house with the in-ground lawn sprinkler system.

 

[RayCo]

If its only going to be used in the growing season, couldn't it be blown out to winter over in the off season?
I used to do that at my other house with the in-ground lawn sprinkler system.

As my daughter gets older, she may want a ice chute in our front yard, so maybe I'll use it in the winter.

 

[bluetc30]

a little over kill but when you run your water lin sleeve it inside a larger pipe so if by chance it freezes and breaks you can just pull the lin thru and replace or fix without redigging

 

[Jay4200]

Hey group. Does anyone know how I can figure out or where I can look up approximately how deep my frostline is? I need to dig a trench for some waterlines to run to a remote hose spicket, and from what I'm reading, I need to put it at least 6" below my frostline. I'm in south eastern PA. Any ideas?

Thank you

You are in a fairly warm area - you likely don't ever get frost deeper than a couple of feet. However, if you want a slam-dunk number, call your building inspector and find out what the local code is for footing depth and put your pipes at that depth. I'm guessing it'll be ~42" (which is serious overkill anyway).

JayC

 

[czechsonofagun]

I got this map:

 

[RayCo]

Interesting map there, thanks!