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Any plumbers on here willing to give advice? Hole in outside water line

Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
So this was my Saturday... and to make it even more fun, the line is 4.5' down. That was a lot of digging.

I'm pretty inexperienced in this... but don't water pipes usually wear from the inside out? This pipe looks like something was grinding on it. I didn't create that shiny section... I was digging around the line and then poured a little water on it to get a better look. It looks like a chunk was either ground off (under 4.5 feet of dirt/rocks) or there was a chip in the pipe and it just finally wore through.

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_2311.jpg

I guess my question is: Can I get away with a patch on this or should I expect to be paying out my arse?
To make things even more fun, it goes under the foundation and then elbows up to come up through the concrete floor. So I'm guessing a sleeve deal is out of the question.
 
BCGPER

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
Is that galvanized pipe? If so, how old is it? For a quick fix I’d cut that area out. Toss in a coupling, niple, and union and call it good for now. My threader is in Arizona, otherwise I’d let you borrow it. Harbor Freight has an ok set for pretty cheap though.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
BCGPER said:
Is that galvanized pipe? If so, how old is it? For a quick fix I’d cut that area out. Toss in a coupling, niple, and union and call it good for now. My threader is in Arizona, otherwise I’d let you borrow it. Harbor Freight has an ok set for pretty cheap though.
Click to expand...

Yea it's galvanized. I'd guess it's nearing 40 years old. Home was built in 1979. I have a patch clamp on it now so we have running water until I get a more permanent solution... but the patch itself is pretty stout. I fear I'd just worry about it as the line is close to the foundation and the water crept in.

I'll look that up, thank you!
 
jeeper

jeeper

I live my life 1 dumpster at a time
Location
So Jo, Ut
My galvanized pipe had a leak just like that. I threw on one of those metal and rubber strap clamps and called it good. 6 months later I had a second leak in a different spot. I assume that once it is bad enough to leak, it will continue to leak. I rented a tractor, dug along the line and replaced the whole thing.
I would be surprised if it really goes under the foundation and through a concrete floor.. but if you are sure, I’ll believe you.
Does the water line run up the concrete wall? I’d drill a New hole through the foundation and run my new waterline straight through.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
jeeper said:
My galvanized pipe had a leak just like that. I threw on one of those metal and rubber strap clamps and called it good. 6 months later I had a second leak in a different spot. I assume that once it is bad enough to leak, it will continue to leak. I rented a tractor, dug along the line and replaced the whole thing.
I would be surprised if it really goes under the foundation and through a concrete floor.. but if you are sure, I’ll believe you.
Does the water line run up the concrete wall? I’d drill a New hole through the foundation and run my new waterline straight through.
Click to expand...

Yea i dug down against the foundation and it goes into the footing then on the inside it runs vertical out of the concrete floor close to the concrete wall about 1.5 feet and there’s another meter in there that the prev owner put in but it no longer seems to count the gallons.

I agree on abandoning that part and just putting a hole through the concrete wall just above the footing to make future repairs better.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
I think I'm going to fill in this patch job for now and plan on replacing the whole line in the next few weeks. Seems like the most logical thing to do, then I won't have to worry about it. The one thought is that I definitely don't want to deal with another like this while there is snow on the ground.
 
R

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
If you plan on staying there, fix it right and don't worry about it again otherwise, know you will see it again. The vibration of the water going through the line will also wear holes, I have seen it with PVC in sprinklers.
 
BCGPER

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
I’m not familiar with the blue poly, but I have used the black. About 40 years ago we replaced the galvanized pipe on my moms house, and it still going strong. Me and my grandfather did it a day, and we didn’t tear up the entire yard. Here’s how we did it. We had a basement to work in, do yours will be a little different.

We took the line apart in the basement and attached the black poly line to the incoming galvanized pipe. We dug a large hole around the meter and disconnected the meter base. I welded an eye bolt to a pipe coupling, then attached the eye bolt to the bad pipe.

The next tool we needed was my trusty 63 CJ5 (see where this is going)? Hook the Jeep to the old pipe, and just start pulling. It actually worked really well.
 
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
BCGPER said:
I’m not familiar with the blue poly, but I have used the black. About 40 years ago we replaced the galvanized pipe on my moms house, and it still going strong. Me and my grandfather did it a day, and we didn’t tear up the entire yard. Here’s how we did it. We had a basement to work in, do yours will be a little different.

We took the line apart in the basement and attached the black poly line to the incoming galvanized pipe. We dug a large hole around the meter and disconnected the meter base. I welded an eye bolt to a pipe coupling, then attached the eye bolt to the bad pipe.

The next tool we needed was my trusty 63 CJ5 (see where this is going)? Hook the Jeep to the old pipe, and just start pulling. It actually worked really well.
Click to expand...
So you just dragged the poly line through the ground while pulling the galvanized pipe out? Genius! @Herzog , I'm in for that. Let me know when you get all the prep holes dug and I'll bring whatever pulling power I can. :D
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
I Lean said:
So you just dragged the poly line through the ground while pulling the galvanized pipe out? Genius! @Herzog , I'm in for that. Let me know when you get all the prep holes dug and I'll bring whatever pulling power I can. :D
Click to expand...

I’ve considered this but the line is so deep. Probably better to just dig it up entirely.
 
Jesser04

Jesser04

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville Utah
I’ve used a hole hog with my buddy when he did sprinklers I’m not sure how deep they go but it might be worth looking into. They are similar to a trencher but it only puts a slit in the ground and drags the pipe behind it.
 
UNSTUCK

UNSTUCK

But stuck more often.
I've never done this before, but just thinking....can you run the new plastic line through the old pipe? Then just cut the old pipe a foot or so off at the street.
 
SnwMnkys

SnwMnkys

Registered User
Location
Orem, Utah
Ive replaced a couple galvanized steel main lines. Replace with new HDPE blue poly line. Use brass compression fittings designed for the poly line. Everything from a plumbing shop. You wont find proper components at Home Depot.

You can dig down at your meter and build an adapter that connects to the main and runs through a garden hose and back fees your water supply in the house through an outdoor hose bib. That way you still have water in the house while tearing up that main line incase it takes you a few days.

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...-potable-water-pipe/59110/p-1444431563454.htm
 
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Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
When it rains it pours...? Nothing new on the service line... still waiting for the rest of the utils to come out and mark via bluestake. But now my basement drains are bubbling when vast amount of water goes down the line. Been snaking 50 ft down the cleanouts inside, in the vents and in the cleanout just outside and haven't hit anything yet. Good lord.

Guess I'll call up a rooter tomorrow to see if they can go further down.
 
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