HI all,

We recently replaced our air compressor and air handler and installed a
new unit which controls not just the temperature, but also humidity in
our house. The HVAC guys installed a new air handler in the crawl space
of our house. They drew a new pipe from the air handler which sticks
out from the crawl space to drain water into our back yard. According
to the installation guys, we may have up to 5 gallons of water a day
being pulled from our house by the new air handler, this water drains
out from the pipe and is dumped into our back yard. The HVAC installers
left the pipe sticking out, leaving it to us to decide how to direct the
drainage.

The HVAC guys recommended two options for directing the drainage:
Dig a deep hole under the end of the pipe--place an upside down bucket
in the hole, fill half the bucket w/ gravel. Drill a hole in the top of
the bucket, seal the pipe into this hole so that water flows into the
bucket.
or:
lengthen the pipe--dig a ditch, attach PVC to the current end of the
pipe, and lay a length of PVC along our yard, keeping a 5 degree drop
per foot of pipe to allow water to flow down the extension.


I'm thinking of opting for the later option. I am thinking I could
drill holes on the bottom of the PVC extension, dig a ditch, lay gravel
down in the ditch, and lay the drilled PVC pipe on top of this gravel
lined ditch. I would not extend the pipe more than 10 feet.


What do you think of my PVC soaker idea? Could this work? I have heard
of pipes actually sucking in dirt and getting clogged--which could turn
out to be a problem. If I laid the pipe on top of gravel and only
drilled holes on the bottom of the pipe--do you think it would work?

Do you think this is too much water for nearby grass or plants? I don't
want root rot.

What do you think would be the best way of directing the water...the way
that would be most beneficial/least harmful to my grass and plants?

Has anyone tried anything like this at all?

TIA!
Heidi
Raleigh, NC

Heidi wrote in message m...
or:
lengthen the pipe--dig a ditch, attach PVC to the current end of the
pipe, and lay a length of PVC along our yard, keeping a 5 degree drop
per foot of pipe to allow water to flow down the extension.

:
:
:
What do you think of my PVC soaker idea? Could this work? I have heard
of pipes actually sucking in dirt and getting clogged--which could turn
out to be a problem. If I laid the pipe on top of gravel and only
drilled holes on the bottom of the pipe--do you think it would work?

Do you think this is too much water for nearby grass or plants? I don't
want root rot.

It souds like the leach (leech?) field in a septic system. If it's
designed correctly and buried under the frozen line, there won't be
any water for the nearby grass or plants. But you don't want any deep
root plants near the pipe.

In general, it should work. You may want some kind of relieve pipe as
well in case the leaking pipe is clugged by plants root or (dirt from
the distlled water?).

From: Heidi


HI all,

We recently replaced our air compressor and air handler and installed a
new unit which controls not just the temperature, but also humidity in
our house. The HVAC guys installed a new air handler in the crawl space
of our house. They drew a new pipe from the air handler which sticks
out from the crawl space to drain water into our back yard. According
to the installation guys, we may have up to 5 gallons of water a day
being pulled from our house by the new air handler, this water drains
out from the pipe and is dumped into our back yard. The HVAC installers
left the pipe sticking out, leaving it to us to decide how to direct the
drainage.

The HVAC guys recommended two options for directing the drainage:
Dig a deep hole under the end of the pipe--place an upside down bucket
in the hole, fill half the bucket w/ gravel. Drill a hole in the top of
the bucket, seal the pipe into this hole so that water flows into the
bucket.
or:
lengthen the pipe--dig a ditch, attach PVC to the current end of the
pipe, and lay a length of PVC along our yard, keeping a 5 degree drop
per foot of pipe to allow water to flow down the extension.


I'm thinking of opting for the later option. I am thinking I could
drill holes on the bottom of the PVC extension, dig a ditch, lay gravel
down in the ditch, and lay the drilled PVC pipe on top of this gravel
lined ditch. I would not extend the pipe more than 10 feet.


What do you think of my PVC soaker idea? Could this work? I have heard
of pipes actually sucking in dirt and getting clogged--which could turn
out to be a problem. If I laid the pipe on top of gravel and only
drilled holes on the bottom of the pipe--do you think it would work?

Do you think this is too much water for nearby grass or plants? I don't
want root rot.

What do you think would be the best way of directing the water...the way
that would be most beneficial/least harmful to my grass and plants?

Has anyone tried anything like this at all?

TIA!
Heidi
Raleigh, NC


Go ahead with your plan to drill holes facing DOWN into some gravel. Home Depot
sells a "sock" like membrane, usually used with the 4" diameter preforated
drainage pipe, for direct burial w/o a gravel base which prevents fine silt &
dire from re-entering and clogging the pipe. Should work for you although the
sock would be a little loose on a smaller diameter drain pipe.

If you want, install a "T" above ground level so that IF the preforated PVC
ever does clog up, the water would simply back up and pour out of the hole on
the side of the "T."

(HA HA Budys Here) wrote in message ...
From: Heidi


HI all,

We recently replaced our air compressor and air handler and installed a
new unit which controls not just the temperature, but also humidity in
What do you think would be the best way of directing the
water...the way
that would be most beneficial/least harmful to my grass and plants?

Has anyone tried anything like this at all?

TIA!
Heidi
Raleigh, NC


Go ahead with your plan to drill holes facing DOWN into some gravel. Home Depot
sells a "sock" like membrane, usually used with the 4" diameter preforated
drainage pipe, for direct burial w/o a gravel base which prevents fine silt &
dire from re-entering and clogging the pipe. Should work for you although the
sock would be a little loose on a smaller diameter drain pipe.

If you want, install a "T" above ground level so that IF the preforated PVC
ever does clog up, the water would simply back up and pour out of the hole on
the side of the "T."


that is what we did, a french drain... we have a fairly small yard
below a long hill so we put the drain all along the hill side of the
house then down the side to the street to catch the water runing off
of the hill and also tied our house guttering on those corners
involved to the drain so that the water off the roof is carried away,
too.

the drain is about two feet deep lined with landscape clothe ( like
the 'sock' but encases the whole ditch and will fold over the whole
thing) then gravel and the holy pipe (with holes all around it) and
more gravel then the clothe fastened over that to form a big sleeve or
sock, then soil on top of that, with 'T's' coming up to cleanout
openings which are capped and each of three corners of the house
guttering downspouts teed in also. works really well. at the openings
of the patio wall, in order to be sure water does not gather and go
onto the patio at the two openings of the patio wall, a 4" grilled
cleanout was 't'd' in at each and i covered the small grill that
covered them with the cloth inside then placed clote over that then a
large metal grill over that to further protection. the grills and
clots all can be removed and the opening can be cleaned out if the
filter allows any soil in. so far so good.. second year now and no
trouble.
Lee H