Flexible PVC in drainage tile?

[Briandpeterson]

I am installing a Raypak Propane heater 15' away from the pool (15' x 48" steel sided pool). Figured be better than having pump and heater right next to pool for various reasons.

I am using Flexible PVC pipe. In Iowa. No termites in area. Yes I am going to bury it. I would need to go down over 6' to get below frost line. Ground can heave. You would have to be very careful to properly fill in with pvc or it would crack.

I thought what if I used drainage tile that is slit to allow water to also drain out. This would protect it from rodents like moles and rocks. This seems for the home owner special best of both worlds. I was going to rent a ditch witch trencher and go 3' deep. Not sure if two 1.5" pipes would fit in a drainage tile 3" in size. Maybe do two runs?

Just a idea. Thoughts beyond don't do and use PVC instead. I am not going to go down deep enough.

 

[ajw22]

You get the drainage tile and flex PVC pipe installed?

How did it go?

 

[Briandpeterson]

We just had snow today haha (Iowa). I am probably several weeks away. I will report back.

 

[Briandpeterson]

I am planning on doing 2 trenches with 3" slit corrugated drainage tile with a silt sock. I was also thinking of using a 3" to 2" rubber boot with hose clamps to prevent anything going in from the outside. Flexible 1.5" PVC is 1.9" OD.

I have not read about anyone doing this. But in theory this should solve the concerns of Flexible PVC. So, tell your friends you heard it here first, haha!

Only thing you would need to do, in winter is blow lines out and put some RV anti freeze down.

I am going to use unions so I can pull the pump and heater inside into basement.

 

[Briandpeterson]

Ok here are some photos. Have a 3 way bypass and a check valve. Don't have the heater hooked up. Electrical is temporary. But we went from spring to summer this week in Iowa.

I just glued things in to the pump today. I will let cure over night. Of course I am nervous

If this works you can call this the Iowa method. Trenched 3' down with a ditch witch.

Winter I will pull pump in and heater. Blow lines out and dump RV antifreeze down them.

In theory this solves all the "what might happen to flex pvc if X happens (rocks, moles, termites (I don't have)).

 

[Briandpeterson]

So far everything is working well. I have electrical trenched in. Going to do bonding but waiting for propane company to add 500 gallon tank because trenching to house tank is 500' feet away. Not worth it.

Once I get everything cleaned up and the heater is going I will post some more photos.

I will update when I winterize and when I put everything back in the spring (which is the real test, right?). I plan on pulling the heater and pump inside.

 

[Briandpeterson]

It's been a bit. But here is a update! The "Iowa Method" is going well. But we won't know until Spring when everything thaws out. This summer though I got it all hooked up. It worked great. No leaks! Super easy to connect all the flexible PVC.

Attached are a few photos showing it winterized. With all the unions it was simple to Winterize.

 

[Briandpeterson]

Update on the "Iowa Method". I just got the pump going this weekend. I blew out the lines of antifreeze and connected it up. I have a heater bypass and have not hooked that up yet. I will be in the next week or so. Things are working well. No leaks so far. Water levels are holding. The Iowa Method could be the best DIY way of relocating your equipment without breaking the bank. Obviously until I get like 10 years there will be a skeptic!