DIY Waterline Stub-Out for New Manufactured Home | Mini Excavator Dig, PEX Tee Install & Zero Leaks!
What's up, everyone? In this episode of our ongoing manufactured home build series, I'm tackling the waterline connection that our grader conveniently "forgot" to quote for. With the house delivery looming (possibly as soon as Monday!), I couldn't wait on pros—especially with our tricky 1" CTS SDR9 pipe buried a whopping 30" deep. Watch as I fire up the mini excavator ("Mini Micro") to locate the line using old blue paint marks, swap buckets for precision digging, and carefully trench under the concrete footers without turning our yard into an unintended pond.
**Highlights:** - **Bucket Swap Hack:** Ditching the 16" for an 8" bucket the old-school way (no quick-attach yet—maybe a future water jet custom wrench project?). - **Hand-Dig Drama:** Switching to shovel for the final expose, prepping a "well" to catch the 300ft downhill gush when we cut the pressurized line. - **Tunneling Under Footers:** Hit a concrete snag? We improvise with a $20 spade bit + extension on the drill (it worked!), skipping the pricey auger. Pro tip: Push PEX through the hole for a clean stub-out between the house frame rails—no buried joints needed! - **Fittings & Fixes:** Brass cap with Pro-Pinch clamps (9+ years leak-free for me), Blue Monster PTFE tape, SharkBite push-to-connects (direct bury with silicone wrap—4 years strong), and a stepped-down 3/4" PEX tee for the house, greenhouse, and workshop. - **Friday Night Fiasco:** Cut at 6:30 PM with the specialty store closed? Temporary defeat—patched overnight with extra PEX and a smaller tee to keep water flowing to the house. Saturday morning victory: Full install, pressure test via the water meter (that red spiky wheel doesn't lie), and backfill bliss.
No major floods, zero leaks after house/workshop tests, and we're race-ready for delivery. Water might seem basic, but getting this stub-out inside the home perimeter was a sweat-equity win. Huge shoutout to Angela for the store run ideas and moral support (and the towel for the dirty fittings!).
**Tools & Materials Used:** - Mini excavator (AHM Corporation) + 8" & 16" buckets - Ratcheting PEX cutters, crimpers - SharkBite fittings + underground silicone tape - 3/4" PEX pipe (100ft roll emergency buy) - Brass tee, transition fittings, Blue Monster thread tape - Spade bit (1" x 12") + extension for footer tunnel
If you're DIY-ing utilities on your off-grid or home build, drop your tips below—did I tempt fate with those SharkBites? 😅 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for the next adventure: House delivery day! Check the playlist below for the full build series, from property prep to septic tie-in.
Thanks for watching—stay hydrated out there! 🚜💧 *DISCLAIMER* This video and description contains affiliate links. If you click a product link, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
