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Cyngeo,
We are doing indoor manifolds. The pipe is being pressurized with air and each pipe has an
individual valve connected to a common pressure gage. Yesterday, we talked to the gas man who was testing the soil
around our gas line the excavator had broken, and he said the crimp did not
look too bad. He suggested that we put
a stainless pipe repair clamp around that section to stabilize expansion and
contraction and reduce stress. It would
also help make sure the pipe does not re-crimp at that section as we lay the
rest of the pipe.
I have bought some sheet plastic to create a water pond so I can
drop the whole pressure testing manifold under water to see if I spot a slow
leak that is not showing with soapy just water. The excavator also ran over a section of pipe that was well out
of his way when he was not paying attention (he also ran over a 7’ tall by 6’
diameter rhododendron which we were sad to lose and he ran into our the corner
of our metal shed crushing a corner.) I
will test that section by submersing it too.
That section is not buried, but, while it had maybe quarter inch deep
dents in it from the track hoe tracks, within an hour or so, it had returned to
normal shape and you could only see scratches.
As to the antifreeze issue, I never meant to imply that we
would not use it, only that the system is expected not to go below freezing in
the loops. We will be using antifreeze.
An additional note about gas line safety: I had the gas line clearly marked by the
gas company at the excavator's request, but it turned out to be about 12” inches from where they thought
it might be. The excavator was trying
to save a little time and effort by digging with his track hoe as close to the
pipe as possible before hand digging, and he tore the pipe right out of the
ground. The supply side had sheared
flush below the ground, so the excavator decided to bury the severed end to try
stop the gas flow. Apparently, that is
the worst thing one can do – the ground can fill up with gas and create a giant
underground bomb. You should just clear
away (the excavator continued to dig the trench), not try to stop the leak, and
let the gas dissipate into the air.
Also, while the excavator had several clauses in
his contract about not being responsible for locating and damage to
underground utilities, Oregon contractor's law says he is exclusively
responsible for both locating and the cost of damages.
Apparently, he is also responsible for incidental property damage,
despite any clauses in his contract to the contrary.
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