How to Run Wires or Drainage Under a Sidewalk or Driveway - The Great Outdoors

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Instructions for Hydraulic Mining

Hydraulic mining is actually a method of mining gemstones! We’ve adapted it and used it as a method of digging a hole under an existing sidewalk or driveway without having to cut the concrete. It is useful for placing drain tile, pipes, or electrical wiring.

Tools Needed

Materials Needed
Scrap piece of 2X4
PVC pipe
Screws

Steps Involved In Hydraulic Mining

Dig a pit on the side of the sidewalk closest to the house.

Dig a trench on the opposite side of the sidewalk.

Start the hole on the trench side of the sidewalk and seat the PVC pipe in it by placing the 2X4 against the end of the PVC and lightly tapping it into place with a mallet.

Attach the water hose to the spigot and pressure washer.

Start the pressure washer.

Place the nozzle into the PVC pipe and pull the trigger.

As the mud and water begins to flow back out of the PVC pipe, periodically drive the PVC pipe further into the hole using the 2X4 and mallet. You must have the pipe aimed slightly upward- this allows the mud to flow back out of it.

Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the pipe starts to come through the other side.

Drive the PVC pipe into the hole with the mallet and 2X4 until equal amounts of it are on either side of the sidewalk.

Place the drain tile into the trench.

Attach the drain tile to the PVC pipe with the fittings and use a screw to secure them.

Cover the drain tile with the dirt from the trench.


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[Guillotines_For_Globalists]

The brown splash on the house reminds me of the good old evenings after a dinner at Sizzler.

[TankSherman]

Huh, takes me back to when home improvement shows actually had repair tips instead of showing mostly the drama of the remodel.

[billhungerford]

I did this for a 15’ run from my crawl space, under a sidewalk, under a row of bushes and then out into a bed on a hill. I had to use rebar to line up the pipe. So, I had to use a core drill to get through the brick foundation and out of the crawlspace. Then I took 15 feet of rebar and pounded it through the hall, under the sidewalk and bushes and out into the bed. Then I took a 4 inch piece of PVC put it in the pvc and started the power washer. This project took several weeks and was a huge pain but I did end up with a nice drain pipe tucked neatly into my side yard and which has worked perfectly ever since.

[fredgarvin]

The way this guy is dressed, I imagine he and the wife are about to leave for an early dinner at Sizzler, but why not dig a hole for some drainage pipe while she finishes getting ready.

[kennyBFD]

I had a drain pipe that collapsed and needed to run a new one under a sidewalk. The thought of digging by hand gave me a headache. I used my pressure washer to bore underneath the walk and it worked great! Thanks for the tip!

[christiangibbs]

I have been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how tro run an elecrical conduint beneath my sidewalk. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[ljprep]

Good trick. Earlier in life, I bought a length of 3/4 PVC, pair of PVC male and female hose thread ends, and a brass jet sweeper nozzle. It did the same trick as the pressure washer for several hundred dollars less, and it still works 30 years later.
P.S: You left that pipe full of mud, but didn't say anything about it.

[path]

On my previous house I hade to put a pipe under my sidewalk and I used a garden hose connected to a 4 ft metal pipe with a capped end with holes drilled to create a low pressure jet. It took me all day to create a through hole. Your video and method look great! I will try this on my current house. Thanks for the fantastic and concise explanation.

[motavice]

There's a reason this video got 1million views. You're a life saver.

[aigonewrong.]

Joe didn't break a sweat. his shirt looks darn clean after the project. Amazing!

[lostinmyspace]

I used to install piping by digging under the sidewalk by using that long spade. I'd dig half way thru on one side, then dig half way thru on the other and meet in the middle. By that time, my knuckles were bleeding but I got it done each and every time. I used schedule 30 most times, but also schedule 40 pvc. Sometimes homeowners don't appreciate the work a landscaper does for them. But at least I did the right thing.

[francfurian]

That was clever I wouldn’t have thought of doing it like that. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers😊

[learneraccount]

Fantastic idea. Well done and thank you much. This is exactly what I was looking for.

[michaelking]

Great video, great idea, thank you! I'll try this on my next tunneling project.

[InsideOfMyOwnMind]

This video came to me at the perfect time.

[travislamming]

I like it. That's exactly the trick I needed. Thank you for sharing.

[davidblue]

As a contractor we would attach a jet spray from any hardware store attach to a garden hose then clamp it with a stainless steel clamp to a 20 foot 1 inch pvc pipe and run it through a 3 or 4 inch pipe depending on what needed to go under sidewalks or driveways. Surely beat cutting through concrete and leaving the owner with expensive replacement of concrete. The customer appreciated not having an eye sore in their driveway. We have had to cut driveways due to rock bed prohibiting this method, Many have failed in not backfilling with #89/10 slag and tamped properly causing settlement and separation of repaired concrete from the original causing dips and eventually needing the entire panel of concrete removed and replaced due to heavy rain from erosion. Caution should always be used when using "too much water" under concrete avoiding erosion of the soil that supports the base underneath concrete. This procedure can save you thousands of dollars up front "IF" precautions are used. But could end up costing more than you bargained for in the end if you aren't very careful using water as the main force getting that pipe from one point to the other. Sidewalks and driveways for the most part have been prepped compacted to be a suitable support base for concrete. When using water it should only be used to moisten ground as you pile drive the pipe avoiding eroding the support base for the concrete. Unless you have the means to dig very deep leaving a healthy support base for the concrete. It's not a question to IF but when the cracks will occur. Water is a powerful force that damages foundations, sidewalks and driveways. Undermining the soil of concrete never ends well without costly repairs if adherence to certain precautions. Kudos to this gentleman for showing us a quick fix to go under sidewalks. Please use caution when doing so!

[poisinkink]

This was the most simple video on YouTube

[stephenneville]

I have a ten foot pipe, I need about 4 ft so I’m gonna cut of 6in👍

[JLT]

Wow, lucky I found this video. I want to run 4 in drain pipe through and below the wall footing, and this well help. Thanks