Proper drainage is an essential part of any home improvement project. It is just as important as other interior home improvements like a functional plumbing system, air conditioning, insulation, or landscaping. While these improvements make your home look beautiful on sunny days, they can be damaged by improper land drainage and plumbing issues.
Subsurface tile drains
The installation of subsurface tile drains is necessary for proper drainage of wet or dry soils. These drains are usually buried two to four feet below the soil surface. The drainage pipes have perforations, which allow water to enter. In the past, the pipes were made of clay tiles, where the small spaces between the tiles allowed water to seep into them. Nowadays, the most common type of subsurface tile drain is corrugated plastic tubing.
Tile drainage can decrease soil erosion and runoff of some nutrients. In particular, tile drains can effectively control phosphorus and nitrogen, which are major causes of gulf hypoxia and eutrophication of surface water. This drainage method can improve water quality and increase productivity. By increasing soil drainage, water can be more efficiently filtered before entering streams and lakes.
It is important to understand the topography of the site before planning a subsurface drainage system. This will allow you to plan a drainage system that best suits the soils on the site. If the land is flat or slightly undulating, you can do a topographic survey and plan accordingly.
The subsurface drainage system must be installed properly and in the proper location. Proper installation will reduce maintenance costs and extend the life span of the drainage system. Follow ASTM Installation Standard F 449 to make sure that the drainage system is installed properly. In addition, it is important to choose a seasoned contractor to install the system.
Tile drainage lowers the water table and helps plants absorb more water and nutrients. It also removes excess water that can cause stress to plants. As a result, the crop yield will increase. Tile drainage also improves soil aeration. This allows more roots to grow and absorb more water and nutrients.
French drains
To install a French drain, you will first need to dig a trench. The best method is to start at the farthest end of your drainage system. This can be a street, drywell, or ditch. By digging at this farthest end, you will secure a fixed end that will keep water from flowing back upstream. You can also increase the slope of your piping to deal with problems that may occur further upstream.
Another option for a drainage system is a dry well, which consists of a vertical hole filled with gravel to collect excess water. The dry well is then fitted with a sump pump that lifts the water to the street. However, when installing a drainage system, it is important to consider the effect on the existing utilities.
In a French drain, water is channeled away from a building or property by using the path of least resistance. The gravel trench is sloping in a manner that will direct the water away from a home’s foundation. Moreover, perforated pipes are buried in gravel, which will allow water to flow through them. This will prevent flooding and prevent long-term water damage.
French drains can also prevent the accumulation of standing water in a yard. This will prevent water from damaging trees, grass, and the foundation of a home. If you have a reoccurring drainage issue, you may need to install a French drain. It will prevent excess water from building up around your foundation and prevent erosion.
Vertical drains
The presence of vertical drains in a structure should reduce the magnitude of liquefying soil and delay its settlement. However, it is unclear whether the presence of drains actually has this effect. This study highlights the importance of drains for proper drainage. It shows that the presence of drains reduces the deviatoric strains of liquefying soil and amplification of volumetric strains.
The spacing between vertical drains affects the influence zone of water. A good spacing of vertical drains is required to ensure proper drainage. Generally, vertical drains are installed in a triangular or square pattern. A triangular pattern gives a more uniform consolidation of drainage area. In addition to the placement of drains, they must be able to accept water from the surrounding soil and discharge it into an appropriate area.
The effectiveness of vertical drains depends on their ability to dissipate excess pore pressure. The pore pressure in a soil is related to the coarse grain size and the number of voids in it. Therefore, the higher the grain size of a soil, the higher its permeability in a vertical drain.
The arrival of the flow front allows an evaluation of the drain’s effectiveness. This flow front is the boundary between two layers of soil influenced by the drain. The arrival of the flow front indicates the time for pore pressure dissipation to occur. With a proper drainage system, this delay is minimized.
Besides preventing excessive soil settlement, vertical drains can also help reduce foundation settlement. This is because they reduce the time it takes for the soil to settle. The presence of vertical drains has been shown to reduce the duration of settlement by as much as 75%, compared to the value of untreated soil.
The presence of drains also improves the horizontal acceleration of a foundation. In an earthquake, a drain with a vertical drain is able to reduce the acceleration of a foundation by 0.03 g compared to the one without one. The presence of these drains also reduces the probability of deviatoric soil deformations, which can lead to settlement and rotation. Repairs Crew offers a great cleanup service in Peoria that will surely help you with all your drainage concerns.
Surface drains
Surface drains are installed in the surface of a property to move and collect large volumes of water quickly. They are commonly used in homes with sloped exteriors. They help prevent the foundation from being harmed by excessive water runoff. They also prevent moisture and soil movement. Unlike French drains, surface drains can be installed easily and by professionals.
There are two basic types of surface drains: open and closed. Open drains are usually the least expensive type and need to be installed early in the spring when the ground is soft enough to dig. They should be constructed at the beginning and end of an area with heavy foot traffic. Depending on the area’s soil composition, they can be as wide as 10 to 20 metres apart. Compared to other types of drainage, open drains need frequent cleaning to remove sediment. If not maintained, they can be dangerous for people, animals, and machinery. Furthermore, they are not suitable for subsurface drainage.
If your property has sloped areas, you can grade them to drain properly. A properly graded surface area will direct excess water toward a street gutter or storm sewer. The same can be done for open turf areas. A swale can also be used to drain water. A swale is a downward-sloping “crease” in the landscape, which will direct water to a lower location. Another option is to install a catch basin or sump/pump to collect excess water.
Subsurface drainage, also known as a French drain, is a system of pipes and ditches under the top soil. These systems are used to channel water away from homes and buildings. These systems require extensive excavation to complete. They usually require the digging of trenches and underground pipes.
Whether you are using subsurface or surface drains for proper drainage, make sure that you consult your local drainage guides before installing any system. Proper drainage is important in preventing ponding, preventing saturated soil, and preventing soil erosion.