How to Install Irrigation & Drain Pipes Under Walkways or Driveways

The Ultimate Handyman show you 3 different methods for installing irrigation and water pipes under concert walkways or even a driveway.

[@raba650]

What part of the nation do you have your business at?

[@bigtiny3857]

Awesome. You got to the important part without a long buildup.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

That was the goal. I always hate when people make videos and the first few minutes are them taking about something other that the videos title.

[@dtoad5576]

Exactly

[@timothyfrost-tx1hi]

I particularly liked the 3/4" pvc installation using hose& pipe Thank you

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Glad you liked it

[@fernandochavez4312]

That’s the most beautiful display I’ve ever seen. I’ve been a landscaper for 36 years and try to teach this to young people all th time. Thanks

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks. It a good skill to know

[@theonlinebizwhiz]

This is genius. Most people would pay thousand$ to hire someone to do this project. Great DIY to save a lot of money.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Im good at saving lots of money

[@GoombahGamer]

Short, sweet, great and to the point. Love it. Thank you.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

No problem thanks

[@lisahowell3468]

Thanks for sharing this with us. You made it look easy. We shall see…wish me luck!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Good luck

[@benca6151]

I'm about to try that pressure washer set up under a corner of my concrete driveway. 4 inch drain line is what I'll be trying to install. Hope it works.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Let us know how it goes.

[@kcender3771]

I never understood the "power washer" method until I watched this video, now it makes sense. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I did subscribe.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks for the sub

[@jaredc.1545]

Exactly what I needed to learn. Thanks! Now, I’m back to work.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

How’d it go?

[@jaredc.1545]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle I got it through and will be doing the final hookups today. 👍

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

@@jaredc.1545 That's great.

[@johnroberts3824]

Excellent video, thanks! Now it's time to bore a hole...

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks. Good luck

[@johnroberts3824]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle Got 'er done and worked out fine, thanks to you!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

@@johnroberts3824 That's great. Good Job

[@FishOutLoud]

Hardpan! How can I not forget that, being from Kelseyville. Now, here in Sandy Florida and thanks for the advise. Need to run 18' under a driveway! Remember, you're just one cast away...

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

What kind of pipe are you running under the driveway?

[@FishOutLoud]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle - 20 foot of 1 inch schedule 40. The driveway is 17 foot wide.

[@kolbyxg]

Let me tell you guys something, this only works if you don’t have big rocks in the way. Haha. Today was a mission.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Yea it’s a lot harder if there are rock I’m the way.

[@krisgee9553]

Nice! Best method I've see so far.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@oll1998]

How do you replace the dirt that was displaced around the pipes underneath the concrete?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Try your best to not take out so much. If you do need to re pack the dirt use a board to push dirt back around the pipe and tamp it in with a hammer

[@Wolfpacker]

Great options! Many thanks.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Your welcome

[@michaelcarroll8693]

What do you recommend to fill all the gaps created under the walkway to prevent the concrete from later settling and cracking?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

If the voids are big re pack the dirt in with a long 2x2 pice of wood and compress it by hitting it with a hammer

[@bradking907]

Nicely done and thanks for sharing your channel 👍

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks.

[@Steve_in_Texas]

Interesting and useful video!! Thanks for uploading and sharing. Question - when using the hose or a power washer, is there a risk of washing out too much dirt under the path causing a cavity to remain?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks. It usually makes the hole slightly bigger than the pipe. I’ve never had problems with concrete cracking. The deeper you dig your trench and start you pipe the better for supporting the concrete.

[@MGB-learning]

Great video!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@davidwitte8469]

All fine and dandy until you hit rock. Most walkways have some sort of foundation. If that happens you have to do method 1 with a small hole shovel. I also had to use a ramming bar because I had random 6-8 inch rocks in the ground. This will be great fun as you lie in the mud trying to bust up a rock 2-3 feet from you. If you don’t mind getting dirty and doing some hard physical labor then it is really satisfying seeing the pipe emerge from the other side.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

By foundation do you mean a gravel bed? Yes sometimes you may hit rocks. If that happens you can use a steel pipe slightly bigger than the pipe you are installing and pound that rock out of the way. They do make a special tool called a bullet mole that can push or split the rock out of way. Check It out bulletmole.com

[@vtinecali]

Good video, I appreciate multiple options of digging the tunnel. How wide of a driveway do you think this would work for? I'm guessing no more than a single, it would get pretty hard.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

The last method I mentioned will work for a 2 car wide driveway. It is more difficult the longer the run under the concrete. It might take multiple attempts

[@jennifercavadaleadershipan8846]

Very helpful. Thank you :)

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Your welcome.

[@n1ugl]

This hammer+hose method is (hopefully) what I've been looking for. I'd seen hydroexcavation in a lot of videos, but my walkway doesn't have a strong foundation and I'm worried about washing away too much dirt.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

I hope it works out for you. Let us know how it goes.

[@n1ugl]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle it worked pretty well! I didn't have a pressure washer but a normal hose + drain snake worked for clearing out the dirt in the tube. Unfortunately I wasn't down deep enough and the pipe turned upwards a bit, so I ended up messing up the brick a bit anyway. Very solvable. Thanks for the video!

[@TheHoodGuru]

This is some good stuff. I put a thumbs up. And subscribed.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks I appreciate that.

[@joemachine4714]

How to keep the pipe level when you're poundinĝ?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

If you dig a level trench it helps keep the pipe in line. Just keep the pipe against the trench. This doesn’t need to be perfect, just get it close.

[@joemachine4714]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle mucho thanks for your response 👍

[@rmjr9451]

This was great thank you

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@FixItWithMe]

Can u do this water technique underneath pavers??? Or will all the mud compromise the integrity of the soil underneath and cause problems with my pavers?? Thanks!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

I think it would cause problems for pavers. It might make them skink some. It could be possible if you start the pipe deeper in the ground like 2 feet but that’s a big trench you would have to dig on each side. A bullet mole tool might be a better option. It doesn’t use water, you hammer it in with the pipe attached. bulletmole.com

[@chaiswoodbury6136]

Cool thanks. Going to get mine in

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

No problem. Glad I was able to help.

[@houndsmanone4563]

Nice work. 👍🏽🤠 02/14/24

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@roberthabbe6112]

I was told that you should fill in the area around the pipe after setting it with a product similar to right stuff spray foam that you can use with dirt so that you have no cavity under the walk to prevent the sidewalk from cracking. Are you aware of such a product and do you know the proper name and manufactor of it?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Not sure on a specific name. You could use any spray foam. I like the Loctite brand

[@kennyg572]

wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@Hubjeep]

2:02 Awesome!!!!

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Pounding it in

[@kylearaiza8808]

Anyone try this with larger diameter 4-6” under a 30” asphalt driveway? Thinking of starting with an 8” auger from the hillside then hammer the pipe in with the pressure washer the rest of the way. Only need a 3” pipe but might as well have room for future.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

4” pipe should be plenty. Unless you have some extreme flow of water going through it. Don’t make the hole way bigger Thant the pipe it should be tight agents the soil. You might get cracks in the asphalt because the pipe isn’t supporting the soils. If you use an auger use a 4”. Good luck with you project.

[@jodyjohnstein]

30 inch could do that with a shovel bro

[@WhiteWhite60]

How do you pack the soil back in?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

If you take out to much around the pipe you cam push in back in with a long pice of wood like a 2x2 . Hit the end of the wood with a hammer to pack it in

[@nayna350]

I got 7 meter driveway and need to install pipe for cable, any idea for 7 meter long, thank you in advance

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

You need one of these tools. Maybe you can rent it. Good luck with your project kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqSvdqRmjLqGeZosi=dSGC5uVVPbs7elao

[@vicentevazquez3917]

Like a boss.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Thanks

[@brycenesbitt7201]

Try instead the dry version with a "BulletMole" or "Sidewalk sleever" or just a metal rod stuffed into a 3/4" or 1" pipe and hammered home.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

I’ve hammers pipes in before. I thought about buying a bullet mole but wanted the video to be helpful to everyone on a budget. In the future I can revisit this video and add these in.

[@brycenesbitt7201]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle some people have access to a Tool Library, so cost is not an issue. But they have to know to ask the tool library for the Bulletmole.

[@toddtaylor1243]

Demonstrates his jet nozzle as his garden plants scream silently in fear. Oh, my bad, I guess he's using that to run more pipe. That's makes more sense.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

You guessed right

[@charlieorellana5137]

I have a broken sprinkler pipe under cement, what option do I have without breaking cement slab

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

How wide is the concrete slab? I would just run a new water pipe under the slab and cut out the old section of pipe. Then reconnect both ends to the new pipe. You can use the method I showed in the video.

[@jaydee3046]

Suppose I do not have the space for a long trench. Could I use shorter sections of pipe, and add more as I go?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

You could do that. What kind of pipe are you installing?

[@Karly134]

what do you use on the end of the pipe to that it isn't an eyesore? My project is to remove the tons of rainwater that comes off my roof so to help protect foundation.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Is the pipe connected to a down spout or used as a drain in the ground?

[@JosephHoetzl]

Great stuff but when all the fails, I’ve had to resort to using oversized electrical conduit, crimped to a sharp point and a sledge hammer, then using the metal conduit as a conduit for the pvc.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Something you have to go to plan C to get the job done. Thanks for sharing with us. Iv done this method when there are rocks or hard soils.

[@fosterchadwick5962]

How do you backfill it after

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Try your best not to under min the walkway. If you do you just have to pack it back in with with your hands and tamp it with a thick pice of wood and a hammer.

[@jose2226]

Couldnt you cap both ends of the pipe with a lid or duct tape then tap it through? Would this eliminate the power washing method?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

If the soil is soft enough you could possibly do this. You might have to hit the pipe harder and that could crack it.

[@jose2226]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle you could fit some sort of spike onto the end of it somehow. That might work.

[@3qdx]

If my asphalt driveway was only 3 feet across and not 13, then yes this would work.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

I’ve used this method to run 1” copper pipe under a 2 care wide drive way. It’s definitely not easy but can be done

[@kerimiller6015]

this is the encouragement i needed lol ​@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle

[@day2daylogic802]

What do you do with the water left?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

I use a shop vac to suck out the water and mud

[@veritas4honor]

Drink it.

[@cryptogenik]

How do you prevent erosion on a longer run like a double wide driveway?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

What size pipe are you installing?

[@Fmunoz03]

Can this be done without water? Like hamming in the pvc in the raw dirt? My dirt is pretty soft.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

It’s possible. Be careful hitting the end of the pvc because it can crack off into sharp pieces and hit you in the face. Use a pice of wood against the pipe and hit the wood with the hammer. Also if you have a cap on the pipe it would make it hard to hammer through and if you don’t have a cap it will fill with dirt and need to be rinsed out with water. They do make a tool called a bullet mole that’s made for this. Check it out bulletmole.com

[@Fmunoz03]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle Thanks For the reply! did exactly what you said yesterday and worked great.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

@@Fmunoz03 No Problem. Im glad it worked out for you.

[@justmeandm100]

It was all fun and games until I discovered that my concrete sidewalk was 7" deep with a gravel bed...just trying to run a 5 ft PVC 5/8" diameter under front walk so I could link garden hoses with each other for flower bed sprinklers. Working around already planted flowers, so moving out trenches farther than 4' on each side not really an option. Sigh.

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

That sucks!

[@donna6022]

How to refill the dirt under sidewalk

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

If you take out to much soil you can pack it back in with a 2x2 pice of wood. Use a hammer to compact the soils

[@lyndacrockett2863]

That sidewalk is going to fail. Your pipe should have been a lot deeper

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

There are no cracks. If your worried about cracking you could go deeper. The ground where I’m at is solid.

[@chuckzissman]

No, no it's not - not even close.

[@BobHolster-om8rf]

WHAT ABOUT EXTREMELY HARD CLAY?

[@TheUltimateHandymanKyle]

Dynamite is want you need😂. How far are you running the pipe? You could try using the power washer method. Drive a bigger pipe under the walkway and wash out the clay with the washer. Then run whatever size pipe through your conduit pipe. Let me know how it goes

[@BobHolster-om8rf]

@@TheUltimateHandymanKyle TRIED THE POWER WASHER TODAY. WILL TRY THE PIPE TOMORROW. THANKS