I have a 1" water line I need to run through my foundation wall. Wall is 10" thick, poured concrete.

I've done a bit of internet research, but have not yet assembled a full plan to accomplish this.

Line is black poly NSF 1" IPS, for use with barbed fittings.

I know this much: water line must be 6" below frostline (54"), and I would like to use a link seal to keep water out of the basement. We have other pipe penetrations with hydraulic cement - I've had to repair these over the years, would like to use something a bit more permanent.

I'm also unclear on how to sleeve the poly, and what size hole to core. I have an appropriately sized SDS hammer drill (with rotary-only mode).

So... if I could get a bit of advice I'd appreciate it - or good references to guides.

 

I normally use a piece of PVC pipe as a sleeve. How big you go depends on how much extra room you want around your water pipe. Your pipe is about 1 3/8" outside diameter so 1 1/2" would be the smallest size you could use but with little clearance it could be difficult if you have to shove much pipe through in which case going larger would make it easier.

 

The one thing I don't understand- how do you drill the hole, install the sleeve and make it watertight, then do the same for the PVC to poly pipe? I'm assuming tolerances are pretty poor when it comes to concrete core drill bits, so for a suitably sized PVC pipe, seems it would need to be sanded and even then water could leak between it and the concrete.

 

hi ururk –

I had to do the same exact job. I had to run my 1 inch poly water service pipe through my concrete block basement wall. From what I remember you are not making the PVC sleeve absolutely waterproof. (I asked all these same questions myself when I started the job). The idea is that you should not have water at the base or near the wall anyway. If you do the water needs to be diverted away.

I think plumbing code says that the sleeve has to be 2 pipe sizes larger than the pipe. So if it’s a one inch pipe, then 2 sizes up would be 1 1/2 inches.

I can’t remember how I made the hole for the 1 1/2 inch pipe. One time I used a hammer drill with a masonry bit for something. I think that was the time, but I’m not sure. Anyway, I patched around the hole with the sleeve in it with hydraulic cement. I think that’s how it is normally done. But I don’t think that makes things waterproof.

Also I believe that when you run the water pipe through the sleeve you are supposed to fill the gap between the water pipe and the PVC sleeve with Great Stuff foam expansion, or something similar. (I used Great Stuff). But I don't think that makes anything waterproof.

Anyway, I did that years ago and haven’t had any problems.

 

First I mark the size of hole I need. Then I use a rotary hammer set to rotate and hammer with a long masonry bit. Drill a series of holes around the circle where you marked. I try to slope the hole slightly towards the outside for drainage. Then I switch to hammer only with a chisel bit and knock out the center and use the bit to smooth and round out the hole as needed. Then I use sealant to hold the sleeve in place. I use the sealant to fill in any imperfections in the hole and try to seal it as best possible but the true waterproofing is done outside.

 

I agree with the other posts about using a PVC sleeve. The PVC sleeve gets hydraulic cemented in place, and sealed from the outside using a rubber sealant or similar. The water pipe goes through the PVC sleeve - and that can get sealed using silicone caulk.