Step footer drain question
chrisgermain80
| Posted in General Questions on
Hey everyone,
I live in a 60 year old home and have a step footer foundation construction. I will be installing French drains below the footer but my question pertains to best practice in hooking the drain together to form on continuous drain around the foundation.
Like the footer at one point is maybe 5 feet below grade then steps down even further below grade. Do I just connect the higher drain to the lower drain with vertical solid pipe?? Suggestions??
Thanks!
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Replies
Chris,
Q. "Do I just connect the higher drain to the lower drain with vertical solid pipe?"
A. You can do that. Or, if your excavation permits, you can use two 45 degree ells instead of two 90 degree ells. The 45 degree ells will be less likely to clog and easier to clean out. Remember that a riser to grade (capped by a screw plug or screw cap) to act as a clean-out fitting is a good idea.
I'd also like to point out that the drains don't go "below the footer." They go alongside the footer. You don't want to disturb the soil below the footer at all. With a step footer you need to be very careful with your excavation not to undermine the upper horizontal footer when you are digging near the step. The drain will work just fine if it slopes down at 45 degrees at the step as Martin suggested.
Also, since this is a step footer, I am assuming that it is a hillside lot. The most important thing is to do a perfect job of installing the drain on the uphill side. Get that right and you shouldn't have any water problems lower down the walls.
Peter and Martin, thanks so much guys. Very helpful. Peter, my apologies, yes NEXT to the footer not below. Just not thinking as I was typing haha.
Will definitely do the riser for cleanout and 45 degree elbows.
Question for you Peter, can you give me a little more digging detail?
As I'm excavating, my plan is to start at the lower level dig out to next step up then move up to next level and dig down TO footer and no deeper. Does this sound right?? Sorry, I know it may be hard to visualize. I would send pictures but haven't started the dig yet.
Technically, what matters is that there is a drainage below the slab level. This could be above the footer.
Peter and Martin, thanks so much guys. Very helpful. Peter, my apologies, yes NEXT to the footer not below. Just not thinking as I was typing haha.
Will definitely do the riser for cleanout and 45 degree elbows.
Question for you Peter, can you give me a little more digging detail?
As I'm excavating, my plan is to start at the lower level dig out to next step up then move up to next level and dig down TO footer and no deeper. Does this sound right?? Sorry, I know it may be hard to visualize. I would send pictures but haven't started the dig yet.