Installing a sump drain to the back of my property. I am going to use solid plastic sewer 4″ pipe . The run is about 300′. We dug the trench by hand so its not so straight.
Question- is there a way to bend the stuff with heat etc to it will lay in the trench
it seems like a thin wall plastic pipe should bend somehow
thanks
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Replies
Unaware of any way to bend plastic pipe without heat, heat can be applied with anything from a propane torch to fancy heating chambers / blankets specially made for the job.
4" pipe seems very large for a sump pump.
Any particular reason you chose 4"? The smaller diameters will bend / flex better.
Jim
Edited 5/24/2009 5:46 pm ET by JTC1
i have two different pumps pumping into the line.
we have bent alot of pvc pipe doing nothing more than let'n the exhaust of the truck run through it... once it reaching the point it will bend... don't keep heating for you face it kinking... it hits that point quick... ie won't bend at all then bam it's like puddy...
p
When you use the tailpipe method be sure to have a cold fitting handy. As soon as you pull it off the tailpipe, slip the cold fitting over the end to hold the shape, then make your bends.
I am going to use solid plastic sewer 4" pipe
That could be shedule 40 , that is used in dwv systems, or sdr35 that is used for exterior drainage lines, it could be the thinwall #### that we use for gutter drains , ABS slinky pipe,or something competly different . Please specify.
I was going to use the stuff used in septic systems, solid thin walled stuff. Its grey. Sorry should of been more specific
That still isn't terribly specific. Not one I have seen before. i've used black, white, and green and can tell you what they do.if you go out, and read the labeling stenciled into the side of it, you will know exactly.
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Curley,
I built a hot box out of two metal drawers and a bathroom heater. Works good and cost $4. Saw a crazy sparky bend some by pouring pvc glue on it and lighting. Almost caught himself on fire.
KK
Curley,
You could use heat to bend most plastic pipe, but you probably don't need to. You say -
"We dug the trench by hand so its not so straight. " If you meant it to be straight and its not quite straight your 4" pipe will probably bend enough as you install it to conform to the trench. So don't attempt to use heat. You may find you need to shave a side of the trench at some points to make things fit.
Jim x 3
Are you using 20 foot pipe or 10? If you hold a 20 in the middle it will sag, so it will bend and conform to a wavy trench a bit better while maintaining nice square ( Inline) joints. Glue up the pipe first and let it dry for a bit and lay it in the trench.
There is a machine that electrical contractors use to heat and bend PVC conduit. One that size would be hard to find, though. You might try a large rental house or electrical contractor.
We dug the trench by hand so its not so straight.
Just how "not so straight" is your trench?
Does your trench have corners? Had to go around a few boulders?
Seems something is missing from this story?
Joe H
The best results I have seen are with either a weed burner propane torch, heat gun, or electric paint stripper box.
The best method is to heat only one side, and then bend it towards that side. That keeps the wall thickness on the cold side the same, and thickens that hot side. Heating the whole pipe can result in thinning of the outside of the curve.