Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: hpowers on July 27, 2012, 09:55:17 AM

Title: trench question
Post by: hpowers on July 27, 2012, 09:55:17 AM

any recomendations on putting sand in trench then lines then backfilling with sand before dirt

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: AirForcePOL on July 27, 2012, 01:05:11 PM

I've been thinking about doing that as well.  As far as how good it works though, I have no idea.  I think it would prevent damage to the corrugated pipe (for my situation) instead of having clumps of dirt, rock etc.  I'm guessing that sand has better insulating properties than regular soil does as well.

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: jerkash on July 27, 2012, 05:23:26 PM

If you dug your trench with a trencher and the dirt that came out of the trench was "fine" then I would just use that.  If it has a lot of large lumps in it then I would use the sand.

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: willieG on July 27, 2012, 07:40:05 PM

if you are not below the frost line then perhaps sand would be a good idea? i have had to weld car hoist tubes that have been in the groung less than 10 years due to the acid in clay and a stone rubbing against the tube (i know you are not using steel lines) this is just an oservation

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: johnybcold on July 29, 2012, 07:18:28 AM

I used the central boiler insulated pipe I back filled with dirt not large rocks in a few places I am less then I foot and all winter the snow never melted where the pipe.

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: ThatGUY on August 10, 2012, 01:08:37 PM

I think the sand creates a soft (ROCK FREE) zone that the piping can run in, hould also help with settling/movement.  When I installed tubing in the ground, I ended up between 6'-8' down, so I could get under the footing of the garage, and stay well below the frost line (North MN).  LOVE backhoe attachment for my John Deere 4320, still hate the 3' rock I FOUND, after I bent the lift cylinder

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: historichouseguy on August 10, 2012, 07:23:16 PM

Hope that pipe under the footing does not cool off to much. we have found 12-18 " is plenty deep in the east where code for frost is 42". Deeper sets get cooled by ground water. Check with others in your area. We cored the foundation at 12 - 18 " no problems with temps.

Title: Re: trench question
Post by: ThatGUY on August 13, 2012, 07:56:28 AM

I don't have to worry about ground water/water table, we sit on top of a ridge that is all gravel and sand, once you get past the black dirt.  But thanks for the heads up about the ground water.  Also forgot to mention the jacket on the distribution tubing is water proof.

We ended up burying the pipes that deep (6'-8') so we could get below the frost line (4'), recommended by supplier.