water meter with a 3/4 gate valve question

[iSpark]

Hey!
Does it make any sense to run a 1" pex-a or regular pex water line if the water meter has a 3/4" gate valve on it?

Would 1" water line net any difference in a 200' run?

 

[rlitman]

Yes. Though PEX is not the best choice for underground. There are superior high pressure PE options.

 

[dcg9381]

You can also sleeve pex in PVC (underground) if you're concerned.

 

[stevied916]

Run 1” this will help reduce friction losses over the 100’. Use either copper or pe pipe for buried applications.

 

[iSpark]

Thanks for the replies!

I need some education too. Why is PEX not suited for a buried water line?

When my house was built in 2003, they installed the water line in 3/4" PVC and I'm constantly digging it up to repair a cracked line or a pulled apart joint.

I know I don't want PVC, but now I'm not sure why PEX wouldn't work? Why won't PEX work?

Not going to be copper either, can't afford it, and for sure not a 1" copper line.

I'm in coastal SC where the soil is nothing but sand.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Yes. Though PEX is not the best choice for underground. There are superior high pressure PE options.

Why is that? (I'n not arguing, just like to learn)

 

[rlitman]

...I need some education too. Why is PEX not suited for a buried water line?...

PEX IS suited to be a buried water line, and is used in many areas. Technically, so is PVC.

Of the four, PE is the least prone to damage. It is the softest, so it can bend around rocks and shifting ground. PEX is quite flexible, but can still be torn by rocks and such.

 

[BD1]

I ran 1" black poly plastic tubing that they use to use for underground well piping.
Still no issues and it's 35 years old.
I would check with local building and zoning for what code is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kbs2244]

Since it has been introduced, the black poly has been the go to buried piping arond here.

 

[Bert_]

I run 250psi poly. Compare the wall thickness to pex and you will understand why.

Lots of people run 3/4" in town it seems like. On the farm I've always just ran 1" to everything.

 

[nadogail]

I have developed a dislike for Gate Valves, and as they fail I replace them with Ball Valves.

 

[rlitman]

I have developed a dislike for Gate Valves, and as they fail I replace them with Ball Valves.

Agreed, but when it comes to meters, you often get what you get.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have developed a dislike for Gate Valves, and as they fail I replace them with Ball Valves.

Agreed, but when it comes to meters, you often get what you get.

That's why I left my 194X city water gate valve alone and installed a ball valve...

Tommy

 

[Renegade1LI]

We do a lot of underground utilities, what is usually specd is blue HDPE 3608 NSF 61 rated potable water pipe from main to curb valve to house. NSF 61 means that water can stand in it for 24hrs without the taste being altered among other things, you should make sure all the valves & fittings are NSF61 as well.

 

[matt_i]

My experience with gate valves and water meters was bad. Minerals in the water jammed the gate on one, open. On the other it was free and was exercised but the packing leaked from the stem and neither of these are good situations.

I lacked the pipe freezing technology to make a repair then and still lack it now....

To answer your other question, a single throttle from 1" to 3/4" is not as restrictive as the friction in a long length of pipe. Also you can look at the frictions as additive (throttle + each foot of tube or pipe) ..So for max flow I'd go with 1".

 

[dale500]

Thanks for the replies!

I need some education too. Why is PEX not suited for a buried water line?

When my house was built in 2003, they installed the water line in 3/4" PVC and I'm constantly digging it up to repair a cracked line or a pulled apart joint.

I know I don't want PVC, but now I'm not sure why PEX wouldn't work? Why won't PEX work?

Not going to be copper either, can't afford it, and for sure not a 1" copper line.

I'm in coastal SC where the soil is nothing but sand.

Does your water meter have a anti-backflow valve on it. If yes that can cause spikes in your water pressure when heating water and damage your pipes. I just finished repairing a pvc line crack where the water pressure was hitting 150lbs when the water heater kicked. We added a pressure tank to the water heater to solved the problem.

 

[dcg9381]

Does it make any sense to run a 1" pex-a or regular pex water line if the water meter has a 3/4" gate valve on it?

Would 1" water line net any difference in a 200' run?

I wanted to comment on the original question.
The answer is "yes". Too small of a line to that valve and you're subject to drag and pressure reduction. There are calculators online for distance and required water main size for expected pressure reduction.

It's a little counter intuitive because you're limited by that valve size, but the line size, rise of the line, and length behind it also have an impact.

I have about 300' of water line in my yard. I ran 2" PVC to cover it, as calculators indicated at that size the loss in pressure was minimal.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Who owns the water meter and gate valve?
Why?

Assuming you have to keep the gate valve on there, the answer is still yes 1" line is worthwhile.

"Poly" tubing or HDPE Coil Pipe or Tube or whatever is usually rated in # and suitable for direct bury and used for such. How different is HDPE pipe from PEX?

Not that different, but there is little reason to break the mold. The chemical composition is different. Not that different. The wall thickness/ flexibility/ abrasion resistance etc these are the big differences and why you should just stick to "poly pipe" vs "PEX" underground, IMO

 

[iSpark]

The water utility company owns the meter, not sure on the gate valve.

Decided to go with 1" white pex as it seems to be the standard around this area, albeit most is 3/4"

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Question: can groundhogs and the alike chew on PEX/HDPE pipe?

I have a little over 100-foot of buried PEX for a yard hydrant and because it's not a straight line I couldn't sleeve it with PVC, but I'm always concerned when I see mounds of dirt nearby.

 

[Yankee2bbq]

I work for a city water department. Deal with water meters on a daily basis. The city owns the water meter and setter. Gate valve was mentioned...I have no idea on that. It would be private, something after the meter. Also, we install PEX to all our water meters. Buried. Local plumbers use PEX from the meter to the house, cased. Normal house uses 3/4 water line.