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Breaking frozen ground

6K views 51 replies 40 participants last post by  jimhri 
#1 ·
The water supply line to my house broke near the shut off valve and I need to fix it somehow. The city says I have to replace everything from the valve to the meter with copper so I have about a 25' run to dig out befor the line enters the house. I have a backhoe available but I need to figure out a way to break through the frost to get started. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
#35 ·
Just did this last fall. If it is broken at the shut off, you don't have to replace all the way to the meter. I bought 18" of 3/4 K line and compression fittings. Have they turned the water off at the shutoff to see what side it is leaking on? If you can still hear or see water running when off it is the City side and should be there responsibility. Hardest part of mine was it was 7 feet down and back filled with rock and sand. I went and got some sand to fill the hole after I was done. And as a side note, most water providers in Michigan only cover the street side shut off. If it breaks anywhere on the owners side, it is the homeowners problem.
The barrels and torpedo heater work surprisingly well.
 
#50 ·
Propyline glycol is not really that bad for the environment or animals that may consume it. The problem with your method is that it will only work if liquid water will mix with it. Since everything is frozen, it will not be miscible with the antifreeze therefore it will not work. I think a torpedo heater is in my near future.
 
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