I have been reading “how to” articles with my on-line subscription like crazy since we have started our home re-build and major addtion. Steep learning curve but it is fun!
One thing that I have not found information on is putting service lines through concrete foundations. The house has a shallow well and in the well building we have our pump and pressure tank. From the well building there is currently a 1″ polyethylene line to the house. At the foundation though it changes to a 1/2″ copper line which passes to the inside of the house. Now I understand why we have a pressure drop issue in the house! I want to pass the 1″ PE pipe through the foundation and to the center of the house where I have the water heater and distribution system. After drilling a new hole through the foundation (all about 18″ under ground) I would like to grout off the annulus between the PE pipe and the foundation. I am worried that this rigid connection could be a problem if there is any ground movement around the PE line outside which could rupture the line.
Is this a valid concern? If so, how does one install to eliminate the risk of line rupture?
Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.
Dan
Replies
Piping is typically brought through a wall by using a sleeve. I've seen everything from tile, to iron, to copper, to galvanized with bushings. Whatever works. If you don't have a serious problem with dampness on the outside end, just a pipe of slightly larger ID than the OD of your water line will work. Grout that in and then feed your water line through it. You can caulk the seam between the pipe with something that stays flexible like silicone or foam.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
IMO you should terminate the Poly outside the foundation and switch to cooper or pex outside the foundation. (Here code would not allow your Poly inside the structure.)
An oversize hole though the foundation can be made water tight using a compression ring.
Good comments - thank you.