Updating water service line

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EvilBetty

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Sep 7, 2012
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From street to house.
Replacing existing steel pipe with pex. Does the service pex need to be special extra thick walled pex, or do you just use the regular pex you can find at home depot?
 

RedDog

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Blue poly in at least 200# psi would meet code in most towns as long as you put a tracer wire with it. You can get it in cts (copper tube size), or ips (iron pipe size).
 
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EvilBetty

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Blue poly in at least 200# psi would meet code in most towns as long as you put a tracer wire with it. You can get it in cts (copper tube size), or ips (iron pipe size).
Does the blue actually indicate that it is rated differently than regular interior pex?
 

RedDog

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Does the blue actually indicate that it is rated differently than regular interior pex?
It can also be black in color but generally blue. It is a pure- core virgin resin poly that is made for underground applications. We get it through a wholesaler, but I'm sure I've seen it at menards.
In most cases 1" is suitable unless you water livestock or have a massive irrigation system. This is Menard version.https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/pipe-fittings/polypipe-fittings/1-sdr-9-250-psi-blue-ultra-cts-potable-water-poly-pipe/59210/p-1444431553420.htm
 
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EvilBetty

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It can also be black in color but generally blue. It is a pure- core virgin resin poly that is made for underground applications. We get it through a wholesaler, but I'm sure I've seen it at menards.
In most cases 1" is suitable unless you water livestock or have a massive irrigation system. This is Menard version.https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/pipe-fittings/polypipe-fittings/1-sdr-9-250-psi-blue-ultra-cts-potable-water-poly-pipe/59210/p-1444431553420.htm
def didn't see it at home depot. I am running 1" from main to the house and the only color available was white in 1"
 

EvilBetty

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for anyone wondering, I talked with two contractors plus a plumbing supplier. Pex is good to go for underground applications. Lines should be uninterrupted (no seams). No difference between the white, red and blue pex. red is for hot water, blue is for cold water. white if for both and is apparently often used for the supply from street to the house.

edit:
also, put down a layer of small pebbles over the new water line. This apparently prevents any large sharp rocks from (very) slowly migrating downwards into the line potentially damaging it.
 
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EvilBetty

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an additional note:

I initially bought blue SharkBite brand pex (made in usa) from the plumbing store. It ran $138. Then I checked the equivalent at home depot and it was white $88 (made in China). The specs on each product appear to be exactly the same. Not sure if there is a major difference in the two. Tough call as that is a major price difference.
 

nfrine

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an additional note:

I initially bought blue SharkBite brand pex (made in usa) from the plumbing store. It ran $138. Then I checked the equivalent at home depot and it was white $88 (made in China). The specs on each product appear to be exactly the same. Not sure if there is a major difference in the two. Tough call as that is a major price difference.
You will be well prepared when you need to repair it again....
 
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CivEFootball

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Does your County/City/water provider let your go past your curb stop to the main without a plumbing license? Not unheard of just seems off to me to not need a plumbers license to go all the way to the main.
 
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