Ramesh123
Newbie
Join Date: 3.30.2023
Posts: 1
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Posted: 3.30.2023 1:58:09
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Soaker Hose for Foundation Watering
Foundation Watering
Watering your foundation is not the same as watering your yard. While a yard sprinkler system can be sufficient to maintain the performance of your foundation in some cases, for many home owners, it is not going to be effective in the hottest parts of the summer. For the most effective foundation watering maintenance it is best to use a purpose built foundation watering system.
Watering should be done in the summer months between approximately May through October. Typically, watering can be performed with a soaker hose placed around the outer perimeter of the foundation placed 1 to 1.5 feet from the edge of the foundation. Care should be taken not to place soaker hoses too close to the building’s foundation to reduce the potential for erosion of soil at its perimeter which can result in permanent differential settlement.
Care should also be taken when installing the soaker hoses to ensure there are flow disks installed at the end connected to your hose bibb, or that a pressure regulator is installed at the hose bibb. This will ensure a uniform flow rate in the pipe and prevent pressure damage. It is not recommended that you connect multiple lengths together to prevent problems with non uniform watering due to a typical loss of flow near the end of extended lengths of leaky pipe.
Consideration should be given to large vegetation, such as trees. Where large vegetation exists, you may need to increase watering or install root barriers to limit the vegetation’s impact on the building. If you do not use root barriers, in some cases, your efforts may not be very effective.
What is foundation watering and how does it work?
All homes tend to settle naturally over time as building materials age and interact with the environment. Ideally the settling is minimal and occurs evenly, but structural damage can start (and worsen over time) if erosion leaves parts of your foundation unsupported.
Fortunately for Texas homeowners, foundation watering is a protective measure that can help maintain moderate and consistent soil moisture. If you’re a DIY enthusiast with less severe issues and catch problems before the serious foundation damage begins, this is something you might be able to manage yourself, with a simple homemade solution that includes a soaker hose.
Soaker Hose for Foundation Watering
How much should you water?
Obviously, it is necessary to water more during hot, dry weather and less during cold, damp weather. Start in the dry summer months with a 15 minute a day water regime. This can be increased or decreased as needed. The goal is to maintain a constant moisture level in the soil so that soil below the surface is damp – not soggy and not dry.
Once the watering system is set up, review the trees around the building. A single large tree can remove as much as 150 gallons of water, or almost 20 cubic feet of water, from the soil each day. Shrubs and other plants can also remove large quantities of water. When roots get under your foundations, they can cause foundation damage by drying out the soil under your foundation and causing your foundation to settle. Roots also break into pipes causing extensive plumbing damage. In such cases broken pipes lead to over wet soils which will cause foundations to heave.
Benefits Of Using A Soaker Hose
As soaker hoses don’t spray, they enable the user to reduce water usage. There’s no waste involved, as the water goes straight from the hose into your garden. Further, the slow oozing of the hose prevents runoff and erosion in the garden.
I mentioned a moment ago that soaker hoses tend to keep the water off the plant foliage, and that comes with a distinct benefit. Less moisture on the plant means less susceptibility to fungal disease. But they also help control the soil moisture, which can prevent soil-borne disease too!
Use of soaker hoses can reduce the spread of weeds. As water is concentrated along the hose, weeds that are out of range of the moisture pattern will suffer from a lack of water. This can keep weeds at least partially at bay!
There are time savings involved as well. Since you don’t have to fill watering cans or hold a hose sprayer, you can set it and forget it, and your garden will effectively water itself. Even if you don’t have a timer, simply turning on the faucet and coming back later is super-easy.
Should You Still Check Your Foundation for Signs of Damage?
Even though watering your foundation during the winter could help you prevent many foundation problems, damage could still occur. Thus, we recommend that you inspect both the exterior and interior of your home regularly and look for signs of damage, including cracks, concrete spalling, water leaks, tilting home components, doors and windows that stick, and any other issues that may indicate foundation problems.
Additionally, it’s advisable to schedule an inspection with an experienced foundation repair professional, who will be able to identify potential foundation issues even before they become apparent. Knowing beforehand the foundation issues you might need to take care of one day could save you a lot of money in the future.
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