kc10a
Well-known member
I need to run a water line underground to my workshop, about 150'. The line will need to go under the gravel driveway. Any suggestions on what kind of tubing to use and how deep it needs to be? Thanks in advance.
WaterLine to Workshop
- Thread starter kc10a
- Start date
Spyider
Well-known member
below the frost line, so however deep that is for you.
nadogail
Well-known member
What he said, plus copper tubing.
RoscoTom
Well-known member
I'm thinking the frost line in Mississippi is at right about an inch and a half, a little deeper at higher elevation....
Tom
Tom
Why copper? I'd use PEX. If you don't want to dig down too far you can run a heated insulated PEX line that depending on winter temps is pretty economical to operate
Cyberbear
Well-known member
We don't worry about the freeze level in California, but whatever is used is usually buried 12" deep in order to prevent accidental damage from digging or vehicle traffic. We most often use PVC pipe under ground and something durable and rigid above, like galvanized water pipe. Sometimes the coyotes like to chew on the water lines.
nadogail
Well-known member
PVC or PEX would probably give decent service, but IMHO opinion Copper will be best.
ibedayank
Well-known member
copper corrodes Pex don't
Copper will need to be joind togather to get 150 feet Pex won't comes in Rolls of 5o or more feet up to 500
Copper splits if freezes Pex just swells
Pex is much cheaper
Copper will need to be joind togather to get 150 feet Pex won't comes in Rolls of 5o or more feet up to 500
Copper splits if freezes Pex just swells
Pex is much cheaper
csp
Well-known member
Check with your local water supply house to see what's in use in your area.
gnpenning
Well-known member
Clear core. Can be called several names. It's blue with a white or black core. Mostly 250 psi and rated for drinking water. Designed for to be buried.
If your going to use pex make sure it's designed for direct bury and if exposed is UV stable.
You can use a black irrigation tubing. It has lower psi and not rated for drinking.
If your going to use pex make sure it's designed for direct bury and if exposed is UV stable.
You can use a black irrigation tubing. It has lower psi and not rated for drinking.
sberry
Banned
They make black in potable. It's cheap and works well. If you put joints in use all stInless clamps, double them, tighten, wait, tighten again.
coldh2o
Well-known member
+1 vote for Pex.
Bondo
Well-known member
Boilerhouse
Well-known member
I would use a single piece of black poly, down about a foot so that something driving over it doesn't compress it, and back-filled with a rake to keep bigger stones off the pipe, which could also compress/puncture it.
wes73
Well-known member
Use PEX and sleeve it in 2" conduit. This will help protect it and allow you to replace it if anything happens without digging everything back up.
I vote against using PEX. It wasn't designed for that use. I would use Poly or whatever it's called in your area. It's the same stuff that's used for running from a well to your house. For those on city water you've likely never seen the stuff. For those with a well it's the black pipe coming into your house and going to your pressure tank. It's designed for drinking water, direct burial, and sunlight. Simply put, it's designed specifically for what you are doing, and might even be cheaper than PEX.
Brian
Brian
K'ledgeBldr
Well-known member
Black poly and PVC are the two most common materials used for underground supply lines. There are two very distinct differences- poly will only have two fittings. The PVC will have about 16-17. Another nice advantage to poly, it can be installed with a DitchWitch machine:
No need to dig a ditch!!!
No need to dig a ditch!!!
coldh2o
Well-known member
There are lots of Pex products designed for direct burial, you just have to get the right stuff. It's used all over for municipal water services.
Rigpig
Well-known member
I'm running a water line to my shop as we speak. My run is also about 160' and buried it about 12-18" because of my location and frost issues.
If its going under your driveway i'd recommend at least a foot, deeper the better and sleeve it in the vehicular traffic area just to be safe.
I used 1" PEX, and yes its rated for direct burial and came in a 300' roll. Use a good gravel crush to surround it for the first several inches, then cover with the old material. Stay away from joints/splices whenever you can.
Good luck!
If its going under your driveway i'd recommend at least a foot, deeper the better and sleeve it in the vehicular traffic area just to be safe.
I used 1" PEX, and yes its rated for direct burial and came in a 300' roll. Use a good gravel crush to surround it for the first several inches, then cover with the old material. Stay away from joints/splices whenever you can.
Good luck!
Highbeam
Well-known member
I work for a water utility. We do NOT allow PEX, require black poly (actually called HDPE) it comes in 300 foot rolls and is rated for 200 psi. Only the jippo plumbers try to use pex, we make them rip it out.
Pex is great in the house, not in the dirt.
Pex is great in the house, not in the dirt.
^ ^ ^ This. With Ditch Witch or Vermeer equipment, they can horizontal drill UNDER the driveway. For the rest of distance, they can use vibratory plow and put down the continuous poly pipe just like sprinkler system.
A sprinkler installation company could do all this for you, and you finish the connections.
csp
Well-known member
Just like there are different versions of PEX there are different versions of black poly.
Thus the suggestion to see what's customarily used in your area. The supply houses know as well as anyone.
The HDPE used in my area is blue (and not polybutylene).
Thus the suggestion to see what's customarily used in your area. The supply houses know as well as anyone.
The HDPE used in my area is blue (and not polybutylene).
rburke65
Well-known member
Black poly pipe as said. 1 1/4" and S Steel clamps. I'll bet mine has been buried in Ohio for 20 plus years without a problem.
coldh2o
Well-known member
This stuff is used all over around here, by lots of municipalities and utility companies, and has been for years with no problems:
https://www.rehau.com/download/870960/municipex-brochure.pdf
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
1" black poly line that is made for water. That is all that is used around here. It's thick wall and you can't tear that stuff up if you try.