Water distribution problems

[Angus Cowman]

We have to haul rocks 100 miles to get them.

Hoe far are you form Lebanon, MO? Is it less then 100 miles?

287 miles. Last year AC and his gate opener (also the worker of the whole ranch :tiphat: ) brought my wife a big ol rock for her Bday.

The gate opener didn't even help bring it down she had to stay home and take care of the cows :lol: :lol:

No ya'll know why Jed's wife loves me so much :nod: :nod:

 

[Angus Cowman]

[ Anyone tried 'PEX' as a header, seems like any easier installation and less joints (places of possible failure).

I think what you are talking about is polyethylene. It does make a good mainline. We use polyethylene for the branches also. As Plumber Greg mentioned, everybody has a little different way of doing the same thing based on material availability, cost and etc. I don't mean to step on any toes.



Another option using polyethylene is HDPE (high density polyethylene). Pipe and fittings are fused together by heating the pipe and fittings with a fusion machine and then the two are pulled together until the joint cools. There are a few pipe suppliers that rent the fusion machines and will teach you, usually free of charge, how to make the joints if you buy your material through them. The most common use of this type of installation is in natural gas mains and services, however, it is becoming very popular in water distribution. The wall thickness is greater on HDPE and friction loss will be greater. If you are running long distances you might want to consider 2 inch instead of 1 1/2 inch particularly if you plan on filling large tanks and want to fill them quickly. HDPE pipe is tough and the fused joints are very strong.Bear[/quote]
They must be using a different compound for the water pipe as the stuff we used for gas mains wouldn't hold water for very long it would eat it up from the inside
Tried it and found out the hard way :lol: :lol:
I loved if for gas tho and have installed several 100 miles of it

 

[bear]

Natural gas, water, sewer and forced main sewer are all manufactured with different pressure grades. The yellow stripe HDPE for gas would not be suitable for water pressure. HDPE for water is also manufactured for different surge pressures.
Bear

 

[Kingfisher]

We use PEX for the risers and have had no problems with freeze. It expands when frozen and returns to it's original shape when thawed.

Boy I could have used something like this when it stayed frozen here for 4 days last year..........busted a plastic shut off valve to a hot water spikot at the shop inside the shop..........grrr............

 

[MO_cows]

Is PEX the flexible stuff that comes rolled up in a box? We used that to run water for our frost-free hydrant. Got a friend with a trencher, that sure helped. We went 38" deep if I remember right, and the material was long enough that it only has a joint where it joined the water line and another one at the hydrant. No joints = no leaks for us amateurs. The stuff has been in the ground for well over 10 yrs now and no problems.

 

[plumber_greg]

Yes, that is what they're talking about. Usually we use the polyetherene(?). One brand name used to be Klearcore, was guarranteed for 40 years. Changed the name to pruecore about 10 years ago, and took the warranty off.
For expense reasons, a lot of times we will use gasketed pipe for the mains and run to the hydrants and waterers with the purecore. NO glued fittings on hydrants or under concrete pads, asking for trouble sooner or later. If the purecore gets a hole in it, just push a smaller pipe through it instead of tunneling under the concrete pad.
We use a lot of 1 1/2 class 200 gasketed pipe, smallest gasketed available. If you figure the cost of the glue and cleaner, it will a lot of times be price competive with even 1'' sch 40 and a lot less chance of a leak in a few years. gs