Piping Gutter Water Through Crawlspace
Greetings to all!
I need to have gutters installed on a house, and I will also need to somehow route the gutter water from the back of the house to the front – otherwise it will wind up in the crawlspace.
Here’s the question: is it OK to route the water from the downspouts at the back of the house through a pvc pipe that will run through the crawlspace. The pipe would run from the back of the house to the front (where it might be routed further to the street)?
I ask because the lot is very narrow and one side of the house has a large gas pack which will make it almost impossible to run an underground drain from the back of the house to the front.
Thanks!
Frank
Replies
The only downside I can think of is the possibility of leaks. You don't want water in there, so the pipe(s) should be sound material and well supported.
It should work, in general. You need to plan carefully. The pipe should have as much slope as you can manage, entering the crawl high and leaving low. If you can't manage at least 1/8" per foot then you'll probably have problems, and the more the better.
Keep in mind that there is nothing stickier than leaves and tree trash, so expect that the thing will get clogged. Use at least 4" pipe. Avoid any turns, and if you absolutely must make a turn, use 45-degree elbows, not 90s. Plan it so that the pipe will be accessible from both ends for cleanout (put in a cleanout elbow at the entry point, where the downspout enters the pipe). If you absolutely must put turns under the house, consider cleanout elbows there too.
Consider installing an overflow of some sort on the uphill end, near the entry point. (This can simply be a loose fit of the downspout into the pipe.) If water flows out of here you'll know the pipe's clogged.
One other thing to keep in mind is freezing, if that's an "option" where you live. Generally the section under the house will freeze last, but you can get a frozen clog where it comes out in front. If the pipe clogs with ice (or something else) and then fills up with water and the rest freezes then it'll likely burst.So you need to keep an eye on things at certain times of the year.
why not... yur house water runs thru there...
BTW.. no leaks allowed...
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