Residential - Proper sealing around conduit

[chrisb]

Background:
We installed an 1 1/2 PVC conduit leading from the basement of a residence to a detached garage. The purpose of the conduit is to feed a sub panel located in the garage. The conduit exists the residence at basement level, in other words, below grade level and underground to the garage.

Question: I need to seal around the outside of the conduit where it exits the wall of the home or , because of the below grade level penetration, water will enter into the basement.

What do you recommend I use to provide a seal around the conduit and brick exterior of this home?

Many thanks

 

[360Youth]

A good outdoor caulk or sealant should do. Depending on how form-fitting the hole in the block is, you could fill in around your conduit with an expanding foam to keep possible vibration or incidental movement from affecting your seal.

 

[lordofpi]

I agree with 360. If room would allow, you may want to try to fill with some mortar too...

 

[stickboy1375]

The best way is to use Link Seals...

This is the BEST and only way to properly seal a foundation penetration.

 

[iwire]

I was going to suggest the same as stick.

Linkseals are great, but unless you planned on using them when you sized the hole you may be out of luck.

 

[infinity]

For a 1.5" conduit we would use mortar on the inside and outside and then the outside would get a coat of black foundation tar sealant with a piece of nylon mesh embedded within the tar. Last thing you want is a call back for a leak into the basement.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Hydaulic cement will also work as it will keep water out, however I will rarely penetrate a foundation under ground unless it is new construction. Trying to keep water out is not easy.

I usually drill a hole above ground and then use an LB.

 

[stickboy1375]

I usually drill a hole above ground and then use an LB.

That would be my choice if I ever had it my way... :grin:

 

[ptonsparky]

One of the minor details is to pack the backfill as if soil compaction tests were required.

 

[360Youth]

The best way is to use Link Seals...

This is the BEST and only way to properly seal a foundation penetration.

Very cool. Maybe one of these days we will catch up to the 21st century, too. :grin:

 

[tkb]

The problem my not be keeping water from leaking around the outside conduit, but keeping it from leaking from the inside of the conduit.

You can seal the hole with link seal if you planed for it, or with hydraulic cement and tar for a good seal, but if your couplings are in a bad spot or not glued up watertight the water may run inside your conduit into the basement to the inside of your panel or box.

 

[acrwc10]

The problem my not be keeping water from leaking around the outside conduit, but keeping it from leaking from the inside of the conduit.

You can seal the hole with link seal if you planed for it, or with hydraulic cement and tar for a good seal, but if your couplings are in a bad spot or not glued up watertight the water may run inside your conduit into the basement to the inside of your panel or box.

This is what I was also thinking. Water comming through the inside of the conduit is a huge problem and not easy to stop. We had a service on the down hill side of the meter and the conduit acted like a drain. the only affective way of keeping the water out of the inside of the panel was to put an under ground pull box at the house right before the conduit goes in the wall. Then run the conduit up in the pull box at a vertical angle then use duct seal to help plug the opening of the conduit. Make sure the box can drain some other way then through the conduit.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The problem my not be keeping water from leaking around the outside conduit, but keeping it from leaking from the inside of the conduit.

Yet, another reason to drill above ground and use an LB. I have always refused to drill below grade for those reasons, unless the builder takes responsibility for sealing the hole.