Conduit transition - water

jackwashere

I have 2" PVC conduit leading up to the house. I have to transition to metal conduit. Not sure if that should be EMT or rigid for a residential house but that's another matter. What gives me the willies is the transition. It doesn't seem to be water tight and yet it is supposed to take place underground. When a good rain comes along water will get in through the transition and into the conduit, right? Once water goes in there, it is dark and underground. No telling if/when it will dry out.

jbfan

There is nothing you can do to keep the water out anyway.
An underground conduit will collect water just by condensation.

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mpoulton

Underground conduits are always full of water. It's expected. Why transition to metal underground? Why not just use Sch. 80 PVC?

jackwashere

Other way around. I'm transitioning to metal above ground. PVC Sch. 80 underground. It's code supposedly. Not sure if that can be EMT or does it have to be rigid.

hammerlane

Why can't you remain with PVC?

jackwashere

I would love to. Only I heard that county code requires metal above ground. Also there is the issue of sunlight over time. The sun makes plastic brittle over a longer period of time.

kevinp22

Might want to check that code requirement.

Gray PVC around here is actually stamped "non metallic conduit, schedule X, sunlight resistant, approved for above ground and underground..."

mpoulton

I meant why make the transition underground? Run PVC up above grade before changing to metal, if you change to metal at all. Check the code. The NEC certainly doesn't have a problem with this.