Q: Pros cons CU vs Poly water line
Got a call for a small plumbing job: customer’s water line from meter to house got cracked by a root. Big tree in front yard, lots of roots. Root pressed on the poly line and cracked it. I’ve told her best bet is to replace line and cut down the tree. I thought replacing the line with CU would be better then went and priced a 60′ roll of 3/4″ soft copper tube: $200.00 vs. $38.00 for 200PSI Poly tubing. I’ll give her a choice of which one she wants but would like some pros/cons of each. What would YOU put in your yard, and why?
Replies
PEX
poly-what?
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Are you sure that the existing is poly (either PE or PEX) and not PVC?
Never seen poly that would "crack" unless it was installed VERY VERY VERY BADLY.
PVC on the other hand is brittle.
I would need to check into PEX. Did not realize that it could be burried until a couple of weeks ago.
But I have use PE and it is cheap. Just don't like the way the fittings attach.
Might even thing about using PE as a conduit and running PEX through it.
both of those are still polyOne is a cross linked poly ethel something or other and the PVC is a Poly Vinyl Chloride. There are other polys used for plumbing too, so saying POLY alone means almost nothing.
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Yes, you are right.But whenever the work poly is used I think that it is more often assocaited wit polyethelane.PVC siding you will also hear called vinyl, but I have never hear it called poly.
Around here, PEX is what we say to indicate polyetheylene normally, while plain poly more commonly would be understood to be poly butylene tubing, usually mouthed with a lack of smile
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mine is plain pvc
for a supply line!?
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yes
What do you call this stuff.http://www.ppfahome.org/pe/index.html
http://www.slpipe.com/pe_products/sil_o_flex.htm
http://www.slpipe.com/pe_products/information.htmI would expect that it would be common in your area.One of the uses is for well connections.Also used for irriagtion lines.Use for the water loops in ground source heat pumps.
It looks like what we call in the vernacular, plastic pump line,
The short length I have out by the shop does not have any inscription, so I'll have to check what it is exactly we use from well to house. I have seen it right on top of ground too, fitting your irrigation context.
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Poly, no question, but make sure it's the high-density polyethylene, or HDPE; also known as 'black plastic', 'well tube' or 'well pipe'. 160 psi should be a minimum, 200 would be better. Also, I can't imagine that stuff cracking at all - I have seen it run over with a 20-ton excavator and all it does is squish it - it will still pass water and not leak.
At the current price of copper, it's a waste of money.
Jobs all done. I used the 200PSI tubing. I don't know what the original stuff was rated at but it was about 1/3 the wall thickness of the 200 psi stuff I installed.
And I was glad to get the 8' of galvanized steel pipe out of the ground. It had been connected directly to their copper water pipes in the house with no dielectric connector (sigh). Now they have the plastic -> new brass shutoff valve -> copper line.
Just out of curiousity, where is the electrical service grounded?Bing
I don't know.
I could check. It should be to a ground rod.
But if they were grounding it though the copper water line inside the house, that would be a mistake if it were connected to the galv line running under ground with a dielectric connector, wouldn't it?
Ive seen it happen best to check anywayBing
Recently dug up black poly water line that cracked, home owner said it was installed in 1972. Early days for this type product, surface would scale off with fingernail, probably bad spot in batch.
Used dog food happens!
I had no markings on the stuff that was in the ground, but this is what was installed to replace it.
It even calls itself "POLY TUBING"...
Here's what's stamped on the tubing:
"Poly Tubing 3/4" 200PSI SIDR-7 ASTM D-2239 PE3408 NSF-PW Oct/16/2006 LINE #1 BP NAT C2116C3103
Here's what PE3408 pulls up on Google:
http://www.endot.com/products/waterpipe_endopoly_premium_PE3408.asp
Endot's ENDOPOLY PREMIUM PE 3408, High Density Polyethylene Pipe and Tubing, is a produced from a special resin that carries a higher hydrostatic design rating than other PE 3408 products.
ENDOPOLY PREMIUM PE 3408 Pipe & Tubing
· is made from the highest grade PE 3408 resins available * and carries a rating of 345464C (based on ASTM D3350) with a Hydrostatic Design Basis of @ 73o F (23o C) 1600 PSI (Mpa 11)@ 140o F (60o C) 800 PSI (Mpa 5.5)
is National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Certified for use in potable water systems for the transport of drinking water.
available in three sizing standards, ASTM D2737 Copper Tube Size (CTS - OD Controlled)ASTM D3035 Iron Pipe Size (IPS - OD Controlled) ASTM D2239 Iron Pipe Size (IPS - ID Controlled)
Edited 11/24/2006 12:11 pm ET by geoffhazel
I'm familiar with this product, in our area the water companies require it be used from street to house. It should outlive us.