[NorthJersey]

I need to bring a condensate line out of a basement below grade. What's a tidy way to seal the wall penetration and cap off the conduit in a water tight fashion?

 

[surferdude2]

Presumably "Flex Seal" would be able to seal the basement wall penetration. I suppose you have some clever way to get rid of the condensate. About all you can do is trap the drain at its source close to the air handler. I had to smile when I read that you wanted some way to cap off the drain water tight. It wouldn't be much of a drain that way. I misunderstood and realize that you are probably running the wiring out there so you might as well accept the fact that water will likely get into it so get it up and out of the ground asap. Use wet rated wire (thwn or thhn/thwn) for the power if in conduit but no conduit and direct burial UF cable would be preferred.. The stat wire can be direct buried also.

Flex Seal

 

[NorthJersey]

Wow, I don't know why the heck I wrote "condensate." I meant to write "lineset." I have plenty of dwv in the area to drain condensate.

 

[bfrabel]

Is there any way at all to not have to get the lineset out below grade? Refrigerant lines should not be burred if at all possible. If they do need to be buried, they should be run through a conduit.

This is beside the issue of having to waterproof the underground penetration somehow. For that issue, they make a waterproof spray foam that might work to seal up around the PVC conduit that I'm recommending you install as a chase for the lineset. It's just an idea, I'm not guaranteeing nothing. Good luck.

 

[surferdude2]

Rethink it and maybe you can come up with a way to get out above grade. I'd think you could get out through the rim joist... maybe remove some ceiling finish for access, if such there be.

If you have perpetually dry soil in the area you need to go through, go for it, but otherwise it's going to seep water eventually regardless of what you try. If you can accept that, go for it but give it the best shot you can. Bundle all the runs together and put a poly sleeve over them that rises above grade. Oatey makes different sizes... google "Oatey 38707" for an example. Then you can use the sealant of your choice at the wall penetration to do the best you can to stop the water from getting in.

Good luck!

 

[surferdude2]

You can put together a conglomeration like below and it will allow you to thread your lineset through the 90 and cement it all together, then run it through the hole on the basement wall. The 4" 90° will allow the refer lines to come in while having a sweat ell or close bend on them. This way it would be able to bring it up close to the house. Just a suggestion based on what I did once in a similar situation. It also will make it easier to get a seal at the wall.

Use whatever size PVC minimum that will work through the wall with the lineset mass you have.

 

[bfrabel]

You can put together a conglomeration like below and it will allow you to thread your lineset through the 90 and cement it all together, then run it through the hole on the basement wall. The 4" 90° will allow the refer lines to come in while having a sweat ell or close bend on them. This way it would be able to bring it up close to the house. Just a suggestion based on what I did once in a similar situation. It also will make it easier to get a seal at the wall.

Use whatever size PVC minimum that will work through the wall with the lineset mass you have.

I recommend using electrical PVC conduit and fittings instead of plumbing PVC. Electrical PVC uses extra long sweep elbows designed to make pulling things through it easier. I can maybe see some merit to the above idea of being able to get the pipe a touch closer to the house, but it seems more complicated than needed and I still think the electrical PVC with the long sweep elbows would be easier. Also, plumbing PVC is not UV protected and doesn't hold up to outdoor conditions as well.