(I posted this on the Outdoor Forum as well)

The main water line from the county road up to the house was put in 31 years ago. It is 1 1/2 inch pvc using slip joints. It is approximately just over 1/2 mile to the house.

Each fall and spring I have to replace joints where they have slipped apart from changing soil conditions. I need to do something, but have not read enough good testamonies to make me feel comfortable with poly.

I do know about the fusion technique of the joints.

Anybody have experience?

I've laid miles of PVC with the slip joints. Never a problem. Important after priming when you glue it to give a 1/2 turn twist and then back. I have bumped it to problems where someone had not glued correctly and the pipe was in a bind

I apologize Harley. I just did not know the correct word to describe the joint. What was laid 31 years ago were 20' sections of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe. One end of the pipe has a 4" "bell" with a rubber flange in it. No glue is involved. Just one end shoved into the bell end. We always referred to these as slip joints.

I have been replacing these joints where they are pulling apart, using what you are describing.

For oil field poly pipe, the joints are fused with heat. You shave both sides of the pipe so that the mating surface is flat, then squeeze both sides against a hot iron, then squeeze the hot, flat sides together. Another option is using polymate adapters. They are stainless pieces with very fine, tapered, female threads on one end and male pipe thread on the other end. The female end goes on the poly pipe and it takes what feels like 100 turns to torque up on the poly pipe, then you're back to regular pipe threads.

fwiw,

TAMU is going poly for it's heating, chilled, domestic hot and cold water lines (when they have to run new piping).

In talking with the contractors they said it has a projected life of ~100 years which is better then the 20-40 years normal infrastructure piping is generally good for. The contractors also said it seems to be what more large projects/building areas are going to.

Since there are few "joints" other than where 90s and other bends come into play, there is less chance of joint slip or leaks through fittings. Also, since the pipe is flexible, it can move when the ground shifts.

Are you talking about PVC, or PEX?

sounds like what you have is gasketed joint SDR21 or some other pressure class pipe in the ground. You could get 1-1/2 poly in a coil large enough to where you wouldn't even need many fuses. the question would be what are you tying into at the main and what kind of connection do you have at the house?

i work for a pipe distributor, i'm not sure where you are located, but i've got buddies working for the same company all over the country. shoot me an email at bradharrison at gmail dot com

^
We trained you well young Padz....

Padz, message sent.

[This message has been edited by Backstrapper (edited 10/12/2011 11:43a).]

Backstrapper...didn't get your email yet