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[AirForcePOL]

I'm getting ready to dig up my existing pipe and replace it with rehau foam filled pex.  My question is, how deep does it need to be?  I have a lot of rocks and concrete chunks and all kinds of other stuff burried in my yard.  My existing pex is burried about 18 inches.  I was hoping that I could just dig that up and put the new stuff in the same trench so I don't have to worry about hitting any more chunks of concrete by going deeper.  Will this be deep enough? 

[fraizer1]

i replaced my underground line this spring. replaced it with thermopex. dealer i got it from said 18 inches would be just fine.

[mlappin]

I as well would think 18" should be fine. We run 30,000 lb combines over plastic drainage tiles that barely have 18" of cover on them and haven't crushed one yet.

[MattyNH]

Well if you never had a problem with your existing pipes being that shallow..I don't see a problem..But if you plan on driving over them..I def go deeper..

[coolidge]

My house run is down 6 ft due to running under the main road. My shop loop is out in the open, nothing covering it. Of course this will be the first year.

[AirForcePOL]

Cool thanks guys.  I won't be driving over it I just was wondering if my current depth would be acceptable.  Thanks again!

[mlappin]

Well if you never had a problem with your existing pipes being that shallow..I don't see a problem..But if you plan on driving over them..I def go deeper..

Depends on what you're going to drive over it. The occasional car, pickup, or utility tractor? 18" is fine. We have several 4" drainage tiles buried under the main drive by the grain pit, not more than 3' deep. Routinely gets 80,000lb plus semi's over it and the tiles haven't collapsed yet. Logstor or it's equivalent is much tougher than a standard perforated 4" drain tile.

[sceptre74]

Hey Slim, what's your take on this? Getting ready to bury mine very soon

[slimjim]

In all honesty sceptre, put it as deep as you like, I have NO concern about crushing the Logster, I have purposely driven over a scrap piece in my gravel driveway with my 416 CAT with a full bucket, it did not damage the pipe.

[sceptre74]

Wow. Sounds like it can take a beating. Thanks

[AirForcePOL]

Does burrying it deeper have much effect on efficiency?

[mlappin]

Does burrying it deeper have much effect on efficiency?

Bury it deep enough and you should get away from the frost, but however might get into soil thats wet all the time.

[LittleJohn]

I agree with Slim, put the pipe as deep as you like.  Up hear in the great WHITE NORTH (Minnesota) we like to put it below frost line if possible, but really unless you are melting snow over your lines or your delta T is huge, I see no issues.

However it might be nice to drop the ends, so it comes up more vertical due to min bend radius of insulated pipe

[Sprinter]

Many pipes get their rated crush strength only when buried , like simple drain tile has a 3000psi crush rating, but only when buried.
18" is fine many are 12" like septic lines. I'd only go deeper if you knew is was dry all the time.  You'd have to deep enough to maintain above freezing conditions 24/7 to see a gain, and really deep,  like 6' plus to see a measurable savings or gain. And that's only if its dry all the time.

[martyinmi]

I dug up my ThermoPex early this spring and replaced it with 5 wrap from Z Supply.
 Mine was 18" through my yard and 24" under my driveway. (Deeper under driveway because I had a Freightliner FL80 loaded with two pulling tractors and weights driving over it on a regular basis.)
 Thermopex came out just as round as it was the day I buried it.