watering foundation (Houston, Howe: homes, to buy, live in)

[cvsvm2007]

Folks,

I live in flower mound and looking to setup soaker pipe with pipe. Can some of you please suggest which timer and pipe does the job and inexpensive?

Thanks
CVS

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by cvsvm2007

Folks,

I live in flower mound and looking to setup soaker pipe with pipe. Can some of you please suggest which timer and pipe does the job and inexpensive?

Thanks
CVS

Unfortunately nothing is inexpensive now even such simple things as that. However these are the hoses we prefer and have been using for a long time. They can be bought in 25', 50', and 75' lengths at Lowes.


https://www.lowes.com/pd/Melnor-Flat...0ft/1003259046


Timers are a complete crap shoot as they have changed so much over the years and not for the better. First thing to consider is how many times a week will you be watering, once or twice that day, etc., etc. Be careful of the timers out there as the less expensive ones are not very versatile. The timers that have worked for us so far is the following Orbit timer also available at Lowes.


https://www.lowes.com/pd/Orbit-2-Out...Timer/50329573


We have double runs due to the distances we cover and need a two port timer. I would not recommend going farther than 100' on any run (2X50' hose).


One more recommendation is to buy two extra 50' hoses to handle damaged or deteriorated hoses. These are not always on the shelf and ordering them may take longer than you want.

[cvsvm2007]

Thank You. Appreciate your response. I hear these hose pipes may get blocked. Do you face these issues? Also, do you leave this on top of the ground or go few inches below the surface.

CVS

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by cvsvm2007

Thank You. Appreciate your response. I hear these hose pipes may get blocked. Do you face these issues? Also, do you leave this on top of the ground or go few inches below the surface.

CVS

I leave mine above ground to prevent blockage. You can put it below mulch or other such materials but it would not do well to bury them under the soil. These clay soils do have the potential of blocking the common hoses where the specialty sub-surface hose materials in irrigation systems (sprinkler systems) tend to fare better. of course irrigation system hoses are also typically laid only below the sod. I have spoken to others that have said they don't appear to have issues burying them but again they had no way to really determine that. Also leaving them above ground helps if you do want to visually check their operation to ensure they are functioning and have not deteriorated.


Another item to consider when using these, and that is where timers help, is the run time. It is best to run them at night after the sun has dropped and ground cooled at least somewhat. That helps ensure water does not evaporate quicker than it can be absorbed.

[Rakin]

One note also is to lay your hoses about a 12-18 inches away from your foundation and not right up against it. During rainy season, don't overwater or you'll cause lift of the slab. What's worse than not enough moisture is too much.

These will also help water any existing shrubs.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by Rakin

One note also is to lay your hoses about a 12-18 inches away from your foundation and not right up against it. During rainy season, don't overwater or you'll cause lift of the slab. What's worse than not enough moisture is too much.

These will also help water any existing shrubs.

Excellent post. Never set foundation watering hoses closer than 12" from ones foundation. Most pros suggest 14-18".

[cvsvm2007]

Thanks for the responses.

[cvsvm2007]

Originally Posted by escanlan

I leave mine above ground to prevent blockage. You can put it below mulch or other such materials but it would not do well to bury them under the soil. These clay soils do have the potential of blocking the common hoses where the specialty sub-surface hose materials in irrigation systems (sprinkler systems) tend to fare better. of course irrigation system hoses are also typically laid only below the sod. I have spoken to others that have said they don't appear to have issues burying them but again they had no way to really determine that. Also leaving them above ground helps if you do want to visually check their operation to ensure they are functioning and have not deteriorated.


Another item to consider when using these, and that is where timers help, is the run time. It is best to run them at night after the sun has dropped and ground cooled at least somewhat. That helps ensure water does not evaporate quicker than it can be absorbed.

Another newbie question, please can you get back?

How do you handle the entrance of the house? If we go all around the home except for entrance, am I not creating hot zone in the front and will the foundation structure move up or down?

Thanks

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by cvsvm2007

Another newbie question, please can you get back?

How do you handle the entrance of the house? If we go all around the home except for entrance, am I not creating hot zone in the front and will the foundation structure move up or down?

Thanks

With regards to foundations the concept is to keep the soils moist next to the foundation helping what is called the active region under the home. The active region is where soil moisture depletion is most pronounced and moisture depletion caused movements occur. The active region is generally from the foundation wall, or flatwork (sidewalks, driveways) in front of the foundation wall, to approximately 6' -8' inward (can vary depending on conditions). Our clay soils will draw water out of soils next to them and that is the concept of why you would keep soils moist around the foundation to help prevent depletion of moisture in the active region.



For your example use a front entry garage which has extensive driveway flatwork in front of it. It is expected that the soils under the flatwork will remain consistently moist and as a result the soils under the foundation will as well at these active region points. Many homes now have irrigation systems (sprinkler systems) with heads watering next to the flatwork which can further help maintain moisture levels under the flatwork and as a result in the active region as well.


Just as an FYI I do run my soaker hoses down the sides of my driveway pad as I do not have an irrigation system and the lengths of the soaker hoses are such I would typically have a long length extra anyhow. Therefore I not only help with active region moisture levels but also under the flatwork which can settle if soils do dry out.


As an aid to help you understand your foundation and the issues we have the Foundation Performance Association based out of Houston provides various publications that can be found for free here https://foundationperformance.org/ . They write publications specifically for homeowners to help them get the most from their foundations and for Engineers and others to better understand foundations. You can read only the homeowner publications or you can get wild and crazy and get deep and technical if you wish.