What is a Catch Basin and Do You Need One? - Catch Basin Installation Project
Is your driveway flooding with water too often? Do you find yourself hopping over puddles around your property every time it rains? If so, it’s likely that you have a drainage issue on your hands. Standing water in the driveway area can be a huge inconvenience and it can pose a threat to your property. Besides, muddy footprints and splashing water can be reason enough to call for professional help, which is where the Kitsap Drainage and Waterproofing team comes to play!
Catch basin installed by Kitsap Drainage and Waterproofing
Issues Caused by Excess Stormwater Around the Property
Before we show you one of our catch basin installation projects, we’ll go over the issues you’ll run into if you don’t get a basin installed in time. If you’re wondering why there’s so much excess water in your driveway, here’s why - once you replace the natural ground around your property with an impermeable surface for a driveway (such as concrete or gravel), the excess stormwater doesn’t have anywhere to go, which leads to water buildup and flooding.
Since the water can’t soak into the ground, it will collect in your driveway and likely cause a variety of problems. Here’s what could happen if you let excess water just sit in your driveaway:
The drain is likely to overflow.
Excessive flooding from your roof and surrounding areas can result in structural damage such as cracks and holes in or around the driveway.
In cold weather, the excess water that’s sitting in small holes in concrete is likely to freeze, which causes tarmac to crack and leave potholes on the surface.
Frozen water puts you at risk of physical injury (slips).
Run-off water collected near a garage or the front of the property can cause flooding.
The dampness in the driveway can cause the buildup of mould and moss.
What is a Catch Basin
Now that you know the issues that can be caused by having excess water sitting around the property, let’s dive into the solution. In most cases, the best way to solve this problem is to install a catch basin, a buried container that receives and redistributes surface water. The catch basin is covered with a slotted grate at the top that prevents leaves and other debris from entering the system easily, while allowing water to flow through.
The slotted grate is the only part of the catch basin that you can see on the surface. Underground, there are holes on the sides of the basin where you need to attach pipes to move water away from that area. The whole point of this installation is to catch the water and take it from one spot to another, thus preventing flooding and excess water accumulation. The way it all works is very simple. Excess water from the gutters and/or any other area flows into the catch basin through the grates on top. The water is then collected in the basin until it reaches the pipe. Pipes are usually three to four inches in diameter and they need to be installed on a decline in order to carry the water.
If the catch basin installation was done correctly, the end of the drainage pipe should take the water somewhere far enough from the property where it can be soaked into the ground. Catch basins are a pretty common thing in residential areas, driveways, and rear yards, as well as any other area where there could be standing water for one reason or another. They also serve to prevent leaves and litter from entering larger sewer systems.
Catch Basin Maintenance
Although it is important to have your catch basin for yard drainage installed by professionals, it is equally important to regularly maintain the basin in order to prevent blockages and minimize damage. As much as standing water poses a risk to your property, a clogged catch basin won’t be of any help either. Thus, you should maintain it properly by doing the following:
Keep an eye on the grates of the catch basin and make sure it doesn’t get clogged with litter or leaves. It is likely that the basin will get clogged with leaves during spring and fall months, especially if you don’t inspect the grate regularly.
Clean the storage area regularly. Even if you do a great job at removing debris from and around the basin grates, chances are some of it will find its way into the storage bin. Make sure to clean the storage area before the debris can reach the drainage pipes. It is recommended to do a thorough cleaning in the spring after the snow melts down and in the fall after the trees have shed their leaves. However, repeating the procedure more often won’t hurt!
If you want to check how much debris has accumulated inside the catch basin, use a broomstick to estimate the depth. If you’re dealing with a relatively small catch basin, you may be able to do the maintenance yourself. Just make sure not to drop the grates in there, since it can be difficult to retrieve them. However, if it’s a bigger job, don’t hesitate to call professional services to get it done. Kitsap Drainage and Waterproofing specializes in catch basin installation and maintenance.
Photo by Binyamin Mellish from Pexels
Small Catch Basin Installation Project by Kitsap Drainage & Waterproofing
Speaking of which, here’s one of our successful catch basin installation projects done in the Kitsap area. Although this was a relatively small project, our team handled it with the utmost attention to detail. There was a lot of stormwater pooling on this concrete area, which eventually led to the flooding of the lawn all the way out to the front retaining wall.
Our team installed a catch basin to catch the excess water and distribute it through pipes and away from the property’s foundation. Larger sections were pinned into the existing concrete to make sure the site looked decent after the job was done. Our team placed gravel under the concrete to ensure everything was done up to the highest standards. The drain was aligned to the house. Notice the attention to detail and how straight the concrete cuts are. It is this kind of detail-oriented work that we take pride in here at Kitsap Drainage and Waterproofing.
Catch Basin Installation Washington
Need Drainage and Waterproofing Services in Kitsap County? Contact Kitsap Drainage and Waterproofing and our team will arrive at your location with all the tools needed to get the job done in a quick and efficient manner. Although amateurs can attempt to install this type of drainage systems to divert water away from the foundation, it is best to have it done by a professional to ensure the right standards of quality are met. Call us at (360) 689-7176.