Need instructions/advice on 2 water line projects

15 years ago

I have 2 upcoming water line projects I'll have to start on & need instructions on what to do.

The first is the water line from the meter at the road to the house. Over the 12 years we've lived here, we've gotten leaks or holes in the line & my husband has half-ass fixed it. Several months ago the guy from the water department came out & put a temparory metal band/clamp on it but said we would need to fix it. BTW, our pipes are iron pipe & have rusted on our side (naturally) of the meter. I have measured the distance from the meter to the house to be 165 feet. I want to replace all the iron with pvc (or whatever you use) because I know eventually the iron is going to keep rusting & getting holes in the line. Might as well replace the whole thing all at once, I think. Anyway, our house is built on a slab. My in-laws suggested instead of worrying about going under the slab, to do what they did (their house was damaged by Hurricane Ike). They said they got some gizmo that attached to the outside water faucet & connected it to the new line. The father-in-law suggests renting a ditch witch & making a new line & not worry about digging up the old one.

Any advice? We only have the one outside water faucet in the front yard so I don't want to close it off, especially in the summer when I'm watering plants.

The second project is since I'll have to rent a ditch witch for the water line & buy pipe, I have been wanting to have a water line from the house to the vegetable garden instead of dragging water hoses. I have to measure to be exact but it's about 200 feet. We have a well I could tie into but it needs a pump or something before it's usable again. Or, we can use the back outside water faucet, but again, this is the only one so I don't want to tie it up if there's another way.

My husband had back surgery & cannot help so the labor will fall on me & a teenage son & daughter, plus teen nephews if needed. I plan to rent a ditch witch because my father-in-law suggested it would be easier.

Any thoughts or advice anyone can give me? What else, including tools, will I need? What are my options with the slab? I went on the Home Depot website (only thing in my area except smaller, more expensive places) & they have 'supply lines' instead of 'water lines'. Is there anything in particular I need to look for? I don't have alot of money to spend on these projects so I'm trying to be frugal & do whatever I can to cut costs without cutting quality since I intend to be in this house for many years to come.

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Comments (8)

frodo_2009
15 years ago
you need to find out where the water goes into the house
start with the outside faucet..dig down and around see if its there. if not..go rent a metaldetector and find the line
you didnot say how many bathrooms your house has,so i am going to assume its a 2 bath..
run 1" pvc from the meter to the house
and 3/4" around to the garden
pa in law is correct,abanden the old line
you will need to dig up where ever the old line ties into
the house ..is house copper pipes inside??
tools..shovel
hacksaw for cutting pipe
quart each of pvd glue and primer
at the meter you will need a 3/4 female adapter
and a 1x3/4 reducer to tie into the meter
pipe wrench and plyers to take apart and replumb meter
install a valve at the houseand one for the garden
jakethewonderdog
15 years ago
You probably don't want to tie into your outside faucet. I's likely to be 1/2" pipe supplying it and that's not large enough to supply your whole home.

This probably isn't a DIY job. Hire a licensed plumber who can do this job for you.
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frodo_2009
15 years ago
I diasgree with jake. i believe that you and pa-inlaw
and the kids can do this project..renting a ditch witch is the only way to go.
jakethewonderdog
15 years ago
Come on Frodo,

This is someone who is concerned about cost but clearly has no experience with plumbing at all. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can tell a person is that they need to call a professional.
frodo_2009
15 years ago
i am thinking that pa-inlaw is going to do it..
he already steped up with the common sence idea to rent a tracter and abandon the old piping.
she is just doing the recon..i do not think hooking up a water line is to much work for a diy..
i do not know the guy...do you really think the job is that hard !!
manhattan42
15 years ago
Hire a professional.

This is NOT a DIY project.

This job will need to be done to applicable plumbing Codes which among other things will require the new water service pipe to be:

-installed in a properly excavated trench

-installed in trench material adequate to support and protect the pipe

-properly sized based upon street water pressure, developed length of the pipe and water demand based on water supply ficture units in the structure.

-properly located in regard and proximity to the building sewer to prevent potential water pollution or contamination.

-properly protected for backflow and excess pressure

-inspected and approved by the building department.

-safely excavated to prevent personal injury or death and damage to sewer, gas, electric and other underground utilities.

Since it appears that NONE of the family members are construction professionals, a professional needs to be hired.

This is not a job for novices.

And only a novice would suggest otherwise...
hendricus
15 years ago
Call your local Miss Dig, or similar, to stake out all the utility lines. This is very doable.
Kathy Johnson
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for your input & advice. Okay, ramdon thoughts: Actually, I was planning on me & the kids doing it ourselves with the father-in-law & husband 'supervising'. I am not trying to cut corners too sharply or be cheap, it's just I don't think we can afford to hire someone professionally, although I am going to call around & have 2 or 3 guys come out & give me quotes. I thought I could save some money for starters by buying all the materials needed myself.

Thanks for reminding me about calling the other utilities, I had forgotten about that.
I live out in a rural area & alot of people around here do this type of job themselves.
The town I live in only has about 300 people in it so I would have to get someone from the next town over, about 25 miles away. There's always the hassle of finding someone who is willing to come this far out & there's usually an extra fee. I know it's not the same thing, but I feel like if my son & I can handle a tiller, we should be able to do this, or at least some of it.

Actually, I am the one who came up with the idea to rent a ditch witch, not my father-in-law.

I'll have to check first, but as far as I know, the only utility lines is telephone. We're on butane but that runs from the back of the house. Electrical lines are above ground, not below. Sewer is a septic tank & is behind the house.

The house has 2 bathrooms but one isn't used because that's where the washing machine is & it's a tight squeeze between the washing machine & toilet (has a shower only). Eventually, I want the washing machine out because I don't like it in there anyway. About 5 feet from my back door is an efficiency apartment that my son uses for his bedroom. The previous owners ran a water line between the houses when they had the apartment built. It is actually the back of this apartment that the back outside faucet is located.

All around the main house is a concrete walkway including the area at the faucet. Sooo, I am thinking we probably won't replace from there & into the house unless absolutely necessary. I don't know for sure, but I think the inside lines are the old copper ones. If those have to be replaced then that will be done by a professional & at a later date.

Right now we are having to turn the water on & off at the meter so hopefully the bill won't be too bad.

Need instructions/advice on 2 water line projects

Comments (8)

frodo_2009

jakethewonderdog

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Need instructions/advice on 2 water line projects

Comments (8)

frodo_2009

jakethewonderdog

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frodo_2009

jakethewonderdog

frodo_2009

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Kathy JohnsonOriginal Author

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