Construction & Contractors Articles
Vertical access connections are a debatable part of exterior drain tiles. Some contractors do not routinely install access points and claim that drain tiles should be self-maintaining. Others recognize the benefit of having access to your system in case of an emergency. If you are debating whether or not you need vertical access connections as part of your system, you should learn the basics about them.
Purpose of Vertical Access Connections
The vertical sections of PVC pipe connected to your exterior drain tile serve several purposes. Their main purpose is to allow for easy maintenance of your system, but they also allow you to check your system for problems and give you a better idea of where your buried connections are located.
Installation
Vertical access connections are relatively easy to install. They are generally the same diameter as your main pipe or slightly smaller. While the majority of the vertical pipe should not be perforated, you may want to make perforations on the section of the pipe that is above ground. This allows surface water to easily drain down the pipe.
The vertical pipe can be connected to the main pipe with a PVC t-connection. It should be glued or cemented into place. The vertical pipe should protrude far enough above ground that it will not be buried by shifting soil. It should be capped to avoid debris entering your system, and it should be clearly marked to prevent injury.
How Often to Clean
A properly installed exterior drain tile should not need maintenance very often. In fact, traditional systems often had no vertical access points and lasted decades without maintenance. However, if you notice any type of wetness seeping into your foundation or basement, you should consider pressure cleaning your system. If you live in a particularly wet area, you may want to complete an annual pressure cleaning after the wet season.
When to Perform a System Check
If you notice a backup in your system with water entering your home or a foul smell coming from your access pipes, you may want to check your system for blockages. You can either rent a camera and attach it to a drain snake yourself or you can call a contractor or plumber to check your system for blockages.
While you can install a drain tile without vertical access points, any time you need to perform maintenance you will have to dig down to the main pipe. Installing a few access points gives you peace of mind for the future maintenance of your system.
Share11 September 2015
For years, my wife and I debated on what we wanted to do with all of the spare land in the back of our house. We were lucky enough to buy a house on an extra-large lot for a great deal, but the land was "going to waste" for quite a while. One day, we finally decided to have a guest house built on it, and now that the house is finished, we wish we had built it long ago. We are now renting it out for some extra income, and it is helping us save for retirement. I have always been fascinated by construction, so I enjoyed watching the professionals build the guest house and learned a lot during the process. I decided to fill some free time by blogging about the experience and sharing some construction info I learned during the process. Come back soon!