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Underground Air Lines

50cal

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
100
I would like to run a air line from my utility room in the basement out to the attached garage. This requires passing through a concrete wall and going about 15 feet underground to where the pipe would stub up, the floor is not yet poured. What would be the best material, and code compliant material for this application?
 
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HoosierBuddy

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Joined
May 9, 2006
Messages
2,960
Location
Southern Indiana
I would use high density polyethylene gas line for the underground portion and black steel pipe for the above ground portion. You'll have to paint any exposed steel to keep it from rusting.

The high density gas piping is only rated for 100 PSI. Normally, I'd be a real stickler on not exceeding that...but I really don't think it would be a problem to run it up to 120 PSI or so on air.

Your other choice might be to do the whole thing in galvanized. It would last a long time...but not forever.

Phil
 
Last edited:

cderalow

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Joined
Nov 13, 2011
Messages
1,326
Location
Potomac, MD
run a standard 3/4" black iron or copper in a 2" pvc conduit.

protection and lack of exposure to dirt underground. strength and durability of iron or copper.

add to that if you put a trap & filter at the house side, if you slope the line upward towards the garage, you'll significantly reduce condensation at the tool end.
 

Steevo

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Aug 18, 2009
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43.49600, -112.04300
There you go.
Three responses, three different answers.
GJ at its best!
Just wait, there are lots more options/suggestions to come . . .
 

ishiboo

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Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
9,481
Location
Oshkosh, WI
There you go.
Three responses, three different answers.
GJ at its best!
Just wait, there are lots more options/suggestions to come . . .

Actually two people said HDPE. PEX and PE gas line are basically the same thing, perhaps some minor composition changes :p

I would use another form of PEX - the PEX-AL-PEX which is rated for the pressure.
 
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6768rogues

Banned
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
4,524
Location
Western NY
If using a flexible tube, I would sleeve it in something rigid and pitch it back to the house. Then condensation can be drained in your basement. Dips in a flexible line underground could be problematic.
 

buzz4041

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Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
730
Location
South Texas
Galvanized pipe with a layer of dope wrap on it for corrosion along all parts in contact with the ground. It will last forever nearly.
 

Terry454

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Joined
Jan 22, 2011
Messages
106
Location
Illinois
A century ago, when my house was built, they used galvanized (at least I think it was galvanized) pipe for the water supply from the city mains. Those mains have since been replaced twice, and my supply lines failed at 98 years. I am not 100% sure the supply line was galvanized; it might have been just black pipe; in which case its longevity is even more surprising.

Terry
 
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