Water line question

Diggin It · Jul 10, 2021

Early 90s sometime, i ran some 1/2" copper line at the ceiling level of the basement. I forget now, but I think it was going to an outside hose bib. One day I noticed some water on the floor and traced it to that pipe which had sprung a leak. I found I could squeeze it with my fingers nd crush it. Somehow, the inside had been eaten away and it was not much more than copper foil. I have no idea what happened or why.

grsthegreat · Jul 10, 2021

Mine are all compression fittings. Even back in 1996 they were ridiculously expensive. But i did not want to ever have to dig it back up.

GSVette · Jul 10, 2021

I ran 1 1/2 hdpe for my 200’ from well head to shop. Compression fittings were ridiculously expensive ( iirc ~$50 for 1 1/2, ~$80 for 2- I was considering 2” at one point).

Install can be a bugger-I used pallet forks for roll and pulled the line downhill (gently) using my UTV. Bedded in sand and backfilled.

not2old · Jul 10, 2021

I had planned to install 3" sewer pipe as conduit for 1" pex to my shop but after reading this thread I think I need to research more. I installed my own yard hydrants using 1 1/4" black poly that is used locally for well drops. I wish I had bedded it in sand but took care to keep away any rocks larger than 1/2". Also used plastic compression fittings. Been in for about 8 years now with no maintenance needed so far.

cadale · Jul 10, 2021

I vote for sch 40 PVC also. I think it would be least likely to sustain damage from rodents or rocks when backfilling. The bell end connections are stronger as they have more surface area to glue. But I would not backfill till I pressure tested. Flush the line, filling the pipe, then cap it and pressure test, then backfill. Maybe weight down the pipe every 10 feet to keep the pipe from moving first, but I don't recall having PVC pipe move much when initially filling. 1" sounds a little small, as your water needs might change in the future. I usually run bigger than I need and sometimes even then I have wished for more capacity. Good Luck. I am not a plumber, just been using the stuff for decades. Sure beats galvanized.

RalphVa · Jul 10, 2021

Diggin It said:
Early 90s sometime, i ran some 1/2" copper line at the ceiling level of the basement. I forget now, but I think it was going to an outside hose bib. One day I noticed some water on the floor and traced it to that pipe which had sprung a leak. I found I could squeeze it with my fingers nd crush it. Somehow, the inside had been eaten away and it was not much more than copper foil. I have no idea what happened or why.

Your water is likely acidic. Below 7.0 pH corrodes copper lines. We have copper house pipes. Had 8.0 pH when we moved here via one of those free tests. Continued at that level for nearly 10 years. Tests then showed it had dropped below 7.0. Put in a lime bed.

Test it every every week with a digital pH tester. Has been running above 7.0 for nearly a year or more. Had some troubles with air in lines every 6 days. Traced it to backwashing of the lime bed. Got it bypassed and turned off now.

LouNY · Jul 10, 2021

200 pound rated black poly is so much better then anything with joints,
1 1/4 will flow more then a residence will need.
1 1/4 at 19 gpm would lose about 2.3 psi per 100 ft.
Anyone on a domestic well will usually only be at 10-14 gpm, many are only 5-7 gpm.
Farm wells may be higher but depending on the area many will not exceed 20 gpm.

jaxs · Jul 10, 2021

Diggin It said:
Early 90s sometime, i ran some 1/2" copper line at the ceiling level of the basement. I forget now, but I think it was going to an outside hose bib. One day I noticed some water on the floor and traced it to that pipe which had sprung a leak. I found I could squeeze it with my fingers nd crush it. Somehow, the inside had been eaten away and it was not much more than copper foil. I have no idea what happened or why.

I remember grandpaw mentioning "copper worms" from his younger days in the 20s. I wonder if those could have ate your pipes.

ljjhouser · Jul 10, 2021

I originally ran my water line 700' in 3/4 pvc. 40 years ago. It did pull apart in only 1 joint. 5 years ago, I replaced it with 1 1/4 " Poly - Very thick walls and very stiff tubing. Came in 500' rolls. The fittings were offered in bronze and plastic. I choose bronze. This pictured is a union. I used one union and 2 end fittings on ends of pipe.

They are tough and very solid and watertight. I bought 3 fittings, I think they were about$45 each. Not too cheap, but good. Maybe I should also mention this in the Ozarks - Any hole deeper than 1 1/2 foot has been dug with dynamite. I bought this pipe at the plumbing supply. This is what the city uses for water lines. Best wishes, Larry