Burial of CATV/Phone cables

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Mike03a3

Mike03a3

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Location
Virginia
My daughter would like to bury the CATV and Phone cables between the utility pole and her house. (At some point in the future, she will add an addition and have the electric service buried since a new main panel will be installed at that time.) In the meantime, she wants to get rid of the other two, which enter another part of her house. Both the phone and cable TV companies have told her she's welcome to bury a PVC conduit herself to save money, they'll give her the cables and come back to hook them up after she's buried them. Both suggested she use PVC electrical conduit.

So, now comes the question. I've seen several references here to buried PVC become water filled due to leakage and/or condensation. Any tips or suggestions for the proper way to bury the PVC?

Yes, it's a DIY hole in the ground - but the respective service providers will be doing all the actual connections.

Mike
 
use cable rated for direct burial.

maybe the cable and phone people would be willing to give you a part number sicne they already seem so helpful.

keep in mind that if you want your digital cable to work (including internet access) you need to use the correct cable and the right connectors.
 
I understand she wants to get the other cables underground now but here in Indy if you have the electrical service put underground they bring out the Phone and cable at the same time ane bury it all together at the same time for no extra cost. this may be the easiest way to go for her.
 
I did the same thing at a previous house. I dug a trench to the utility's specifications (18 inches deep). That was a big pain, as there are lots of big rocks in my area, and it was a 100 foot run. The phone company gave me their own direct-burial cable, and I placed it in the trench. The cable company gave me a roll of orange colored, easily bendable, "rubberish" 2-inch conduit, and I placed that in the same trench. Then I covered up the trench with dirt. The cable company installed their own cable inside the conduit, and both utilities connected their wires. No problems.

I can only suggest that you ask the utilities if they will give you a flexible conduit.
 
Mike
Its easier than anyone is leading too.
Go to Home Depot or Lowes. Buy the grey 1" PVC from the electrical dept. make sure you buy the 90 degree fittins for stubbing up at the house & the pole. Use the grey glue they sell next to the PVC.
Bury it to whatever depth your comfortable with. I'd suggest a foot, but use your common sense.
Separate conduits!
Stop worrying about water or condensation.
After the wire is in, just shoot a tube of silicone in the ends of the conduit
You engineers have a way to over think & build everything.
 
I did the same thing that Charlie did. In addition, I put 2 more direct burial cables as spares (phone and coaxial). They are chip and you will never know when you are going to need them.
 
I would also make sure the conduit terminates by turning up on the outside of the house.

Nothing worse than running it down into the basement and then finding out it makes a good drain pipe for the yard.

Steve
 
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