Need water pipe cover ideas

[Russell_Reid]

I am looking for some suggestions on how to cover the water pipe that runs to my outbuilding from the house. There is a section between the garage wall and the ground that is exposed. It is also adjacent to the gate into the back yard. The plumber put insulation on it but I am not convinced it is enough protection. The pipe is PEX, but there is a brass elbow where it transitions into the wall. The elbow makes the PEX bend much smaller but could make it more prone to freeze.
Things to consider: This is North Texas outside of Dallas. We don't really have a freeze line here. But we do occasionally get a bad cold spell that can freeze outdoor faucets and the pipes inside the exterior house walls. I have looked at fake rocks but haven't found one that would fit unaltered in this location. I am thinking that i need both physical damage protection and moderate freeze protection.

 

[cdoublejj]

for looks may be a vynel sleeve with snaps, for protection maybe an actual cover, sheet plastic or metal or something.

 

[DGersic]

I’d make sure that there is a way to drain it in case a freeze event is predicted.

For protecting what’s already there, maybe a PVC pipe section? You could split it to allow it to slip over the PEX.

Can‘t say I like that routing, though.

 

[Russell_Reid]

I didn't like it either but the inspector passed it. I do have a way to drain it and there is a shutoff in the garage. The split PVC is a good idea.

 

[Wubicon]

It looks like a the top of the pic that's the post for the gate? Is that right? Just trying to visualize a step back what this looks like.

 

[Russell_Reid]

Yes that is the gate post. I cropped the pic so it wasn't so big to upload. I will get another one that shows the situation better.

 

[Russell_Reid]

this pic shows the situation better.

 

[Wubicon]

Seems like another requirement is to keep whatever the solution is that it needs to be pretty slim. Can't do a big bulky box and hide with a flower pot or something.

 

[yatg]

You can alleviate a lot of the problem by going straight down with the 90 and a ****** and connect the PEX to that.

 

[jack stand]

Unless you have a lot of non family (who will know better) traffic through that gate, it looks easy to avoid for foot traffic and physical damage to the pipe.
Leave it alone or disguse it as you please. For the freeze concern just keep a 5' electric "heat tape" for those rare occasions and wrap it up and plug it in.
You could get a little more elaborate with your disguise and protection if you were to reverse the swing of the gate to being hinged at the wall.

 

[dcg9381]

I didn't like it either but the inspector passed it. I do have a way to drain it and there is a shutoff in the garage. The split PVC is a good idea.

Can you pressurize it at the source or in-line? A simple "T" fitting with 2 shut off valves allow you to shut the source down and give you an air-inlet then you can blow out the line. That's how we winterize houses up north.

I have some exposed pipe (water collection) south of you. The cold survivability of pex (even with copper) has been very good.. PVC, not so much... I now use "regulated heat lines" on the PEX with a simple cloth cover over it. Be careful if you insulate + electric heat tape, it CAN get too hot.

 

[CraigStu]

That sure is a bad location re; the fence gate. Standing on the side where you took the picture, to open the gate and let it swing toward you forces one to dang near stand on that pipe. Could you swap the gate hardware to put the hinges on the post next to the house? Then put a small post in the ground to the right of the pipe to limit the gate swing?

 

[Russell_Reid]

The gate is not really a high traffic area but I could switch the swing. The pipe does not really stick out that much. My biggest concerns are weed wackers and freezing during a deep cold spell. I am not sure why the plumber went sideways instead of straight down. But maybe it was for ground movement. We are on expansive clay here and the ground can swell and contract as much as 4" due to moisture levels. I will probably work up a PVC pipe cover with insulation as suggested earlier. When that pipe wrap deteriorates the PEX will be exposed to direct sun. Which is not good for PEX I understand.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I'd probably use a few bricks that come close to matching what you have and box it in. Outside brick sideways so it doesn't stick out so much.

 

[jkuro]

Heat tape