Have you noticed high and low spots in your yard? Sometimes, these low spots are close to the foundation of your home or other important structures. If that’s the case, you may need to address the drainage problem at hand. There are a variety of ways to deal with poor drainage. In today’s post, though, we’re going to focus on how to install a drainage catch basin. We’ll tell you about what a catch basin is, what it does, why you should have one, and how to install it. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is A Drainage Catch Basin?
A drainage catch basin is a great way to handle excess water and redirect its flow. Your traditional catch basin is essentially an empty basin buried in the ground on top of a bed of gravel. Additionally, the basin has 2 pipes attached to it. One allows drainage water to enter the basin. The other line redirects the water to another pipe to take it away. These are called the inlet and outlet lines. So, essentially, a drainage catch basin is an underground rain barrel with redirection capabilities.
How To Install A Drainage Catch Basin
First, you need to select a basin and think about how much water you’re dealing with. If it’s a downspout catch basin, you will need to move considerably more water than if it’s out in the yard. That basin will be catching all the water in the gutters. While you can use a catch basin as a standalone drainage method, it’s best to have drainage lines to and from the basin.
After you choose a basin, dig a hole the width of the basin. For the depth, make sure to dig the hole at least 8 to 12 inches deeper than the depth of the basin. Once that hole is dug out, you need to dig a drainage trench. The trench needs to be at least eight inches wide and 18 inches deep. The trench needs to gradually slope as it extends. General guidelines suggest a slope of one-inch drop per linear foot. This will ensure adequate drainage flow.
When it comes to choosing a pipe, you can use corrugated or PVC. The corrugated pipe allows debris to build up and get caught in the grooves inside the pipe. We suggest PVC because it has optimal flow capability. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s 4 inches in diameter. To make sure there’s a watertight seal between the drain lines and the basin, use silicone caulk or included watertight gaskets.
If your new basin doesn’t have holes in the bottom, drill several holes to make sure water doesn’t stand in the basin. In the basin hole, fill it up with about 6 to 8 inches of gravel. Before pouring gravel or laying pipe, line the trench with a filter fabric. This prevents soil from mixing with the gravel and clogging it up. Underneath the drain line, create a 3 to 6-inch gravel bed for the pipe. Then, cover the pipe with gravel two inches below grade. Replace the soil to make the ground level again, and you’re good to go! Now you know how to install a drainage catch basin.