Anyone use a subsoiler for planting PEX?

[Stonewall Joe]

I rented one of these a couple of times. Cut through frost and rock like no one's business.

Because I do plumbing as well as hvac in our Houston company we have a trencher and I like it for digging, I don't like it for back filling because the trench is wide enough it may need quite a bit if fill but narrow enough it makes packing the backfill a little tougher. When we built the house in the back at the ranch it took us a while to get that long trench backfilled and then the next spreing we had to go over it again to get it smooth.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Plowing pipe in does very little surface disturbance (typically just drive back over it with the tractor tire) also you won't end up with any settling.

 

[BFE]

In KY we went 16-18" deep and never had a problem. I would think that would be fine for your in TX as well.

I used to work for the local co-op, we hand dug grain bin footers back 30 years ago. We had to dig them 18", that's the frost line here. We're nearly on the 38th parallel, in line with the more northern parts of Kentucky.

 

[Texas B]

There's lots of very shallow rock in some parts of Texas, including my area. From 6" deep to on top of the ground. Gets much worse just a little ways west of here. Some places it's soft limestone, many places marble or worse, granite. I'd hate to use a trencher here, much less pull a ripper just a little ways west of here..

I know the area well. Would not want this project over there. I am in Navarro county near Richland. Pretty much gumbo clay for the most part.

 

[Texas B]

Im starting to believe I can pull this off with a trencher shooting for 18" deep.

One more rookie question.... HDPE pipe uses PEX connecting systems/pieces? (BTW - I'm not a complete dipshit, I've just been old school PVC for a long time)

 

[Mighty Mouse]

One more rookie question.... HDPE pipe uses PEX connecting systems/pieces? (BTW - I'm not a complete dipshit, I've just been old school PVC for a long time)

Generally speaking, PEX fittings aren't compatible with HDPE pipe. For any given nominal size, HDPE pipe has a larger inside diameter than PEX. For example, the ID of 1" SDR-11 HDPE is 1.055" vs. 0.875" ID for 1" PEX. There may be cases where you can mix and match sizes (i.e., a 1" PEX fitting might work with a 3/4" HDPE pipe), but I wouldn't count on it.

Small diameter HDPE pipe is usually joined with either a compression fitting that goes around the outside of the pipe or an insert fitting plus hose clamp.

I recently installed a 1-1/4" SDR-11 HDPE water line and used plastic 1-1/4" insert fittings from Menards. These particular fittings were slightly oversized for the ID of my pipe, but after softening the end of the pipe with a heat gun, I could shove the fittings in. I added a hose clamp for good measure, but after the pipe cooled, the fittings were locked in tight and I don't think the clamps were really necessary. The attached photo shows one of these fittings being installed in my HDPE line.

 

[cowman82]

Im starting to believe I can pull this off with a trencher shooting for 18" deep.

One more rookie question.... HDPE pipe uses PEX connecting systems/pieces? (BTW - I'm not a complete dipshit, I've just been old school PVC for a long time)

you can get cheap plastic fittings that will work, but I don't care for... or you can get stainless steel fittings that run around 10 bucks each. I'd spend the extra on the stainless. I've done several waterline projects with these and they are very nice. They also make Philmac fittings which I used all these on my 3+ miles of waterline installation and never had a problem. If you need full flow these are the way to go.. I don't think you need that for your project though.

3/4" Standard TeeDefault Title

Powerflex Fence supplies the Philmac Standard Tee which is used when transitioning from HDPE pipe to HDPE pipe, it is compression fitted on all ends. These are Outside Diameter (OD) controlled. IPS-OD Fittings for ASTM D3035 and ASTM F714 HDPE Pipe 3G compression fittings have a 50 year+ design...

powerflexfence.com

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Whenever i do underground connections it's stainless fitting and doubled up stainless clamps.

 

[bird dog]

TexB -- You are very close to me so I can give you a couple ideas. Trench your ditch about 18". Laying the pipe in without spending a bunch of time cleaning it out will leave your bury depth at 12 to 18". This is plenty deep in our area. Use one full length piece of pipe so you wont have to worry about any below grade connections. Our clay soil can pull apart most anything when it dries out.

If you decide to use a subsoiler, I have a single shank one you can borrow. I am only about 20 miles from you. I think I also have some HDPE to PVC connections that I can give you. Just let me know and I will see if I can find them.

 

[BFE]

I'm a snob when it comes to fittings. Get the brass compression fittings that require an insert in the end of the pipe. I'm of the opinion if I'm going to bury it I never want to see it again. I prefer the AY McDonald brand.

I hate plastic threads with a passion. I've had to dig up and replace more threaded plastic than I care to remember. Same goes for barb and hose clamp.

I am in the water business, both working for the utilities themselves and private customers, so I deal with this on nearly a daily basis, and I am picky about it.

 

[BFE]

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Our soil and water will eat those brass fitting up in a few short years. Most failed waterlines around here are from the brass rotting away.

 

[SmokinM]

I have never used the compression type but definitely get stainless or brass fittings. Yes you definitely need to clamp them with good quality stainless steel clamps. Those gray plastic fittings are junk.

I have seen that a few places where the water will eat brass.

 

[BFE]

Our soil and water will eat those brass fitting up in a few short years. Most failed waterlines around here are from the brass rotting away.

I've seen copper tubing get eat up in the ground, but not brass. I wonder what's in your ground that does it.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Not sure what's going on underground but I'd bury the gray plastic fittings before brass around here.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

For those recommending against plastic insert fittings, can you elaborate on your opposition to them? I've used them on my place with no troubles so far, but maybe mine just aren't old enough yet to show their weaknesses.

 

[SmokinM]

Not sure what's going on underground but I'd bury the gray plastic fittings before brass around here.

Usually it is in the water not the ground so much. The places I have seen it it would eat fittings that weren't buried. One old timer told me water out of limestone did it but IDK.

 

[SmokinM]

For those recommending against plastic insert fittings, can you elaborate on your opposition to them? I've used them on my place with no troubles so far, but maybe mine just aren't old enough yet to show their weaknesses.

They tend to crack over time especially if there is any traffic over it and if you heat your pipe to seat fittings you have to really watch temp as the heat will crack them at install. They won't take really any flexing at all of the pipe.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Usually it is in the water not the ground so much. The places I have seen it it would eat fittings that weren't buried. One old timer told me water out of limestone did it but IDK.

They rot from the outside around here when buried 6-8' deep they are sitting in wet cold clay and the earth reclaims them. Above ground brass seems to last for the most part unless a guy has really hard water.

 

[Stonewall Joe]

I'm a snob when it comes to fittings. Get the brass compression fittings that require an insert in the end of the pipe. I'm of the opinion if I'm going to bury it I never want to see it again. I prefer the AY McDonald brand.

I hate plastic threads with a passion. I've had to dig up and replace more threaded plastic than I care to remember. Same goes for barb and hose clamp.

I am in the water business, both working for the utilities themselves and private customers, so I deal with this on nearly a daily basis, and I am picky about it.

you are correct about using good fittings, they will pay for themselves 10 times over with even one repair being avoided