No blowing out lines!!!

Superblue72

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2023
152
Ct
Pool Size
14000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hello I live in Ct my pool is being installed in like 3 weeks. My pool builder uses oil creek poly pipe for all underground piping. He states that there is not need blow out the lines, they will not break when they freeze...the pad obviously gets drained...has anyone heard of this??? This kind of freaks me out...
 
Will he put that in writing and include a guarantee that if something does happen he will replace anything damaged or needing to be ripped up to fix the damage on his dime?
 
Will he put that in writing and include a guarantee that if something does happen he will replace anything damaged or needing to be ripped up to fix the damage on his dime?
Well he had made a video, and he states it in the video so there is proof. Company has been in business like 50 years, no bad reviews stating any issues....but I would feel better if someone else on here did this to...
 
We strongly recommend against flex pipe. It's nothing but lazy on the PB. Termites eat the wood fibers which is part of the flex pipe and other times they collapse. We had a member last year have to dig hers up a couple months into ownership because a small pool toy got sucked in the pipe and collapsed it.

You are paying top dollar for your pool. Demand rigid PVC. Flex pipe is no savings in the grand scheme of things but an hour labor.

You may have to go some posts back, but this is about where the issue is in Caseys thread.
 
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We strongly recommend against flex pipe. It's nothing but lazy on the PB. Termites eat the wood fibers which is part of the flex pipe and other times they collapse. We had a member last year have to dig hers up a couple months into ownership because a small pool toy got sucked in the pipe and collapsed it.

You are paying top dollar for your pool. Demand rigid PVC. Flex pipe is no savings in the grand scheme of things but an hour labor.

You may have to go some posts back, but this is about where the issue is in Caseys thread.
It's not flexible pvc it's a thicker version of black poly pipe that's used in irrigation systems...he had a sample seemed pretty strong
..
 
Here's their web site. Information is pretty scant. OUR PRODUCTS – Oil Creek Plastics
Note the warranty - while they will go up to 60 yrs, depending on use, they only pay $.75 per foot for labor to replace, or may cap it at $35 total for labor.
And all fittings, etc., are not covered, only the pipe itself. No mention about freezing one way or the other.

Ditto - it may be OK pipe, but I would never leave water in it over freezing conditions....or as noted, have the PB give you a LONG warranty coverage for all costs of repair if there ever is a freezing issue....
 
It's not flexible pvc it's a thicker version of black poly pipe that's used in irrigation systems...he had a sample seemed pretty strong
..

Compare the specifications of that irrigation pipe compared to schedule 40 ASTM D1785 PVC pipe.

1.5" wall thickness of 0.107 versus 0.145

PSI rating of 100 versus 580.

50% thicker walls and over 5X stronger PSI rating for schedule 40 PVC.

Which pipe do you think will last longer underground?

I would never accept irrigation pipe for pool plumbing and if you ever go to sell the house and the buyer has the pool inspected I think it will be flagged as an issue.
 

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It's not flexible pvc it's a thicker version of black poly irrigation pipe
Then it uses barbed fittings with clamps that are their own long term issue. I bought it once for irrigation and yes, it was beefy. But if a fitting let go it was 12 inches deep under grass. I'd never run it under something I didn't want to dig up. For example, all the 90s around the perimeter of the pool or the connections at the returns/skimmers.

They used irrigation pipes for ages and stopped for a reason. When PVC was unavailable for a year during the shortages, or ridiculously overpriced if it was available, they didn't go back to poly pipe. Everybody waited, myself included.
 
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I wouldn't buy into it. My lines are blown and antifreeze added to every single one.
 
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I wouldn't buy into it. My lines are blown and antifreeze added to every single one.
This company has had this practice for over 50 years....I would think if there were issues they wouldnt keep doing it?? But yes it does make me nervous...I forgot to mention it was also stated the water in the pool does not need to be lowered....I don't know the whole process tho...
 
1695817003240.png

"Even if you have drained the water out of your irrigation system, some water remains and can freeze, expand, and crack PVC piping (rigid, white pipe). Polyethylene pipe (flexible, black pipe) is used in many freezing climates.

Although polyethylene pipe is more flexible and can expand under pressure, water left inside can freeze and rupture the pipe walls.

Freezing water in the backflow assembly will damage the internal components and can crack the brass body."

 
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Let's assume for a moment the pipe itself is fine. Like I said, I've used it myself and its stout. But think of the weak points, such as the skimmer and return barb connections and any fittings used from one end to the other. They are all plastic and prone to splitting in freezes. And they're all clamped so what happens to metal when left in the dirt ?

I'm not saying it'll matter anytime soon, but it's guaranteed to matter eventually. If age alone doesn't take out the clamps, a particularly brutal Polar vortex on year 9 might take out the fittings. If it's near the pool, you'll be tearing up patio. Modern PVC blown per local practice will last forever undisturbed and will cost peanuts to upgrade to.

The builder is taking the lazy way out to save an hour labor, which also won't break your bank. It's unacceptable IMO.
 
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Compare the specifications of that irrigation pipe compared to schedule 40 ASTM D1785 PVC pipe.

1.5" wall thickness of 0.107 versus 0.145

PSI rating of 100 versus 580.

50% thicker walls and over 5X stronger PSI rating for schedule 40 PVC.

Which pipe do you think will last longer underground?

I would never accept irrigation pipe for pool plumbing and if you ever go to sell the house and the buyer has the pool inspected I think it will be flagged as an issue.
There are pros and cons to everything while I agree the pvc may have stronger bust out strength and can handle higher psi, this really isn't a concern for a pool...you are no where near thise kind of pressures..but poly pipe from my experience with installing irrigation is its much more forgiving from cracking or breaking....did you ever hit a pvc pipe buried in the ground with a shovel it beaks first hit,, while the poly pipe won't because its not rigid...
To say it wouldn't pass inspection is just plan wrong imo poly pipe is an acceptable pipe to use for pools
 
Let's assume for a moment the pipe itself is fine. Like I said, I've used it myself and its stout. But think of the weak points, such as the skimmer and return barb connections and any fittings used from one end to the other. They are all plastic and prone to splitting in freezes. And they're all clamped so what happens to metal when left in the dirt ?

I'm not saying it'll matter anytime soon, but it's guaranteed to matter eventually. If age alone doesn't take out the clamps, a particularly brutal Polar vortex on year 9 might take out the fittings. If it's near the pool, you'll be tearing up patio. Modern PVC blown per local practice will last forever undisturbed and will cost peanuts to upgrade to.

The builder is taking the lazy way out to save an hour labor, which also won't break your bank. It's unacceptable IMO.
To be honest it's actually a selling point when they were presenting....im not trying to debate whether or not pvc or poly is a better pipe to use, I believe they are both fine, (i like poly personally its flexible and forgiving a d won't crack like pvc) question was has anyone done this practice of not lowering water and blowing out the lines?
I can still blow these lines out if I want and use normal closing procedures...
 
im not trying to debate whether or not pvc or poly is a better pipe to use
Apologies if we (by that i mean me:ROFLMAO:) get worked up on your behalf. We want you to get your best pool. :)


question was has anyone done this practice of not lowering water and blowing out the lines?
I am unaware of anyone leaving the pipes full in our region, but I certainly don't know everyone, so there has to be those who don't.
I can still blow these lines out if I want and use normal closing procedures...
I don't care what anyone says, I'd blow mine either way. :)
 
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Ahh so there is others that do this ok...in this thread they talk about this...not blowing lines in the winter
 

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