Today’s lesson
will be soil hydration for areas of expansive soils with extreme weather swings from wet to dry. Hydration must be correctly
maintained, during hot dry peroids, to provide a steady support for your home foundation, which of course provides support
for the rest of your home.
The first step in proper hydration is proper equipment. Proper equipment consists of enough soaker hose to
surround your area of concern. Your area of concern may also include the patio, driveway, sidewalk, swimming pool and free
standing buildings that are supported by the expansive soils. Proper soaker hose should include a restrictor in the female
end to allow a controlled amount of water to enter the hose. Soaker should be placed flat on the ground at point where water
is introduced to the system. A short section of regular garden hose may be hooked to the faucet to bring water to ground level.
Soaker should be placed
approximately 12” to 14” from the structure. Soaker hose should provide enough moisture to keep soil, between
soaker and foundation, slightly moist. Wet is too much, dry is too little. Slightly moist!
If at any time soil begins to pull away from the structure, turn up the system! Getting muddy? Turn it down. In
order to make system easier to design and implement you may use Y splitters, you may connect more than one section of
hose and you may use timers to control the turn on and off and length of cycle. Be aware and check system regularly.
Keep soaker hose as flat as possible.
Do Not’s: Do not
place soaker next to foundation. Do not place soaker closer than 12” to structure. When
air condition or other objects prevent 12” distance, go farther out rather than closer in. Do not go between house and
fence, go under fence.Do not bury soaker. Do not allow water to run to point of standing water. Do not allow selected areas
to be wet while other areas are exposed to extended drying. The number one thing to remember is this is
not NASA we are not trying to put a man on the moon. If you over do it or under do it or forget to do it your home will not
collapse…. However the better you work the plan.. the less likely you are to have structural foundation failure. If
you have questions email or call me. If you email include a phone number. Most questions can be addressed best by voice. My
number 817-308-8186. My email
Note:
Sprinkler systems are usually not designed to provide adequate moisture to protect your home foundation. Supplement with soaker
hose during extremly dry peroids or during water restrictions as allowed. Soaker hose should not be confused with any type of watering devise that has holes which allow water to run
freely. Soaker is black, round and porous to the point that liquid will “sweat” from the hose when pressure is
applied. See picture below.
