Installing a wood boiler is an excellent way to add value to your home and lower your heating bills. However, there are some things that you need to know before you start – one of which is installing an underground pex pipe for the wood boiler.
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What is pex piping?
PEX piping is a type of pipe used in plumbing applications. It is made of a thin extrusion of polyethylene plastic that can be safely used on hot water, steam, and gas lines. The advantage?. It does not rust, corrode or develop leaks like copper pipes.
We carry many brands of PEX piping products in stock and can help you with your selection. Pex piping is a type of plastic piping used to provide regulated low-pressure water and steam. Pex piping is made up of very thin, flexible plastic tubes encased in a protective coating. It is available in sizes from one foot to 100+ feet long and in various diameters. It is used for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and agricultural applications.
How do I bury pipe underground for boiler installation?
Burying pipe underground is one of the most common methods of connecting a boiler to a cold water supply. To bury pipe underground you’ll need A PVC pipe, about 1.5″ in diameter. A trench for boring the hole, at least 6 feet long by 3 feet wide. A shovel or digger. A wheelbarrow or wheelie bin. A shovel or digger. An auger to bore the hole, a long, narrow tube with a rotating bit at one end. A water meter to measure the flow of water into the pipe; these are usually located on the main water supply pipe. A hose to connect the auger to the water meter.
Step 1: dig a hole in your yard or garden Because the PVC pipe is only 1-1/2″ in diameter, you’ll have a tough time fitting it into the hole if you dig with a shovel. Chances are, the hole won’t be quite deep enough either. So try digging a trench 3-6 feet long and 3 feet wide. You’ll need a trench shovel to dig the trench. If you don’t have one, borrow one from your local hardware store (or use an old shovel).
Step 2: set up the auger with a hose attached to it Hook up the hose from the water meter to the auger by sliding the hose through the auger’s hub. Slip the end of the hose into the hole and slide it apart so that two hoses, one on either side of the hole, are connected to the auger. The auger will be behind your back here. Slide the hose so that one end is pointing towards the hole and the other end is pointing away from you. This will be the intake hose, which will draw water into the auger. The other end of the hose will be attached to the opening of the pipe that is going into your ground-floor room.
Step 3: Put the pipe into the ground Slide one end of the auger hose into the side of the pipe. You’ll need to hold it there because you will not be able to hold the pipe in place and push the auger into it because of the weight. Slide the other end of the pipe into the opening of your ground-floor room.
Step 4: Run the pipe into the ground Once the auger is in place, run the hose as far into the ground as you can. The auger should push the pipe all the way down to the bottom of your foundation.
Step 5: Move the pipe into the basement If the pipe is not going into your basement, remove the hose and put it in the garbage. If it is going down into your basement, the next step is to move the pipe into your basement.
Step 6: Drill a hole in the ground With the pipe in place, use a small drill bit to make a hole in the ground next to it. Make sure to wear plastic gloves and eye protection when you’re working on the ground.
Step 7: Pry the pipe out of the ground Continue pressing down on the drill bit to pry it out of the ground.
Step 8: Insert the pipe Into the basement Now that the pipe is out of the ground, you can insert it into your basement.
Step 9: Insert the pipe Into a wall Now that the pipe is in and ready to go, you can insert it into a wall.
Step 10: Drill and install the pipe connection Continue to drill and install the connections in your basement until you’re done.
Step 11: Check your water leakage If you leak, you can plug it in. Check for leaks at all connections, and make sure to tighten them back up if there is still a leak.
Benefits of underground pex piping
Using underground pex piping for your wood boiler is a great choice for many reasons. With an underground hot water system, you will enjoy the benefits of not having to dig up your yard or driveway to install your hot water system. You can also avoid utility shut-offs and disruptions during construction by installing the system inside the home.
Why should you consider pex piping?
When it comes to installing a wood boiler, you are going to want to make sure that the fuel line is outside of the house. Ignoring this little detail will make for an expensive project in the long run. You are going to need a firebox that is at least 8″ wide and as long as the total length of your system. The firebox should be as far to the back of the boiler as possible. You are going to want your exhaust pipe to also be placed at least behind the boiler to ensure that it is out of the way.
Another reason why pex piping is a good choice for use in your wood boiler furnace is that it can be installed in a variety of under-the-counter installations. This means that you will be able to receive the benefit of pe x piping without the need for any significant changes to your current plumbing configuration. This is most important if you are installing pex piping outside of your home. You will want to be sure that the piping can run through the walls of your house without any problems.
