Briggs2513
New Member
All,
Though I have used this forum in the past this is the first time I have posted anything, all the other forums I have searched for information have been spot on but I just can’t seem to find anything specific on this issue.
I recently installed 634’ of 2” schedule 40 pvc bell end pipe from my water meter to my first hydrant, later I will branch off to get water to shop and house. I live in central Kansas and saw that my minimum frost line depth was 28” – 32”, I trenched about 36” – 40” the entire way. A little deeper where I crossed the creek. Then I back filled the line all except the first piece and last which is where I think I went wrong…. After the city installed my meter with ¾” line coming out I tied in the 2” line.
I opened the hydrant and cracked the valve at the water meter and waited until the water was running out the hose connected to the hydrant. Est. time 15 min. After that I left the hydrant on and slowly turned the valve on at the meter. As soon as I opened the valve all the way the first bell joint downstream of the hydrant came apart.
I dug down so I could get to the connection, cleaned, regreased the fitting, and put the line back together. After the line was back together I back filled the trench to hold the pipe in place so it would not slip out. Then following the same procedure I filled the line again. Now with water running out of the hydrant and the valve open all the way at the meter I slowly shut the hydrant off and turned it on several times. After it seemed I kept getting the same pressure I left it shut and walked up to the meter to verify no leaks. When I got to the meter there was water filling the trenched hole.
I shut off the valve at the meter and dug to the first fitting off the meter. This joint did not slip apart so I went to the meter and turned on the valve but now the joint was leaking around the pipe like there was a bad seal. I turned water off and cut in a coupler which I glued. After repairing this joint I filled back in the trench around the pipe I dug up. I then opened the meter valve ¼ of the way with the hydrant open until all of the air was out of the line. Once all of the air was out of the line I turned the meter on all the way again. Both of the fixes worked and did not show any signs of leaking but the pressure is really low on the hose and when I shut the hydrant off the meter is still running pretty fast.
Now I am looking at digging up each one of the fittings and replacing it with a slip fix coupler….. 30 joints, and the slip fix couplers aren’t cheap!
Does anyone know what I did wrong or if there is a better way to fix the issue? Should I dig up the line and go with something else completely? I figured the slip pipe was the way to go as the water company uses it.
Additional info
I placed the bell end away from meter
The trench was 5” wide
I put all the joints together out of the trench then dropped it in
I greased the beveled end and the gasket inside the bell
Thanks
Brian
Though I have used this forum in the past this is the first time I have posted anything, all the other forums I have searched for information have been spot on but I just can’t seem to find anything specific on this issue.
I recently installed 634’ of 2” schedule 40 pvc bell end pipe from my water meter to my first hydrant, later I will branch off to get water to shop and house. I live in central Kansas and saw that my minimum frost line depth was 28” – 32”, I trenched about 36” – 40” the entire way. A little deeper where I crossed the creek. Then I back filled the line all except the first piece and last which is where I think I went wrong…. After the city installed my meter with ¾” line coming out I tied in the 2” line.
I opened the hydrant and cracked the valve at the water meter and waited until the water was running out the hose connected to the hydrant. Est. time 15 min. After that I left the hydrant on and slowly turned the valve on at the meter. As soon as I opened the valve all the way the first bell joint downstream of the hydrant came apart.
I dug down so I could get to the connection, cleaned, regreased the fitting, and put the line back together. After the line was back together I back filled the trench to hold the pipe in place so it would not slip out. Then following the same procedure I filled the line again. Now with water running out of the hydrant and the valve open all the way at the meter I slowly shut the hydrant off and turned it on several times. After it seemed I kept getting the same pressure I left it shut and walked up to the meter to verify no leaks. When I got to the meter there was water filling the trenched hole.
I shut off the valve at the meter and dug to the first fitting off the meter. This joint did not slip apart so I went to the meter and turned on the valve but now the joint was leaking around the pipe like there was a bad seal. I turned water off and cut in a coupler which I glued. After repairing this joint I filled back in the trench around the pipe I dug up. I then opened the meter valve ¼ of the way with the hydrant open until all of the air was out of the line. Once all of the air was out of the line I turned the meter on all the way again. Both of the fixes worked and did not show any signs of leaking but the pressure is really low on the hose and when I shut the hydrant off the meter is still running pretty fast.
Now I am looking at digging up each one of the fittings and replacing it with a slip fix coupler….. 30 joints, and the slip fix couplers aren’t cheap!
Does anyone know what I did wrong or if there is a better way to fix the issue? Should I dig up the line and go with something else completely? I figured the slip pipe was the way to go as the water company uses it.
Additional info
I placed the bell end away from meter
The trench was 5” wide
I put all the joints together out of the trench then dropped it in
I greased the beveled end and the gasket inside the bell
Thanks
Brian