Comments on: Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/ A home owner's look at foundation repair choices Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:02:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14633 Digger Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:02:37 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14633 I would run the soaker hoses for an hour or two at a time and see what happens. After a while you'll get a feel for how long it takes to put down the amount of water you need. I would run the soaker hoses for an hour or two at a time and see what happens. After a while you’ll get a feel for how long it takes to put down the amount of water you need.

]]> By: m.Rochelle http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14632 m.Rochelle Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:34:59 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14632 I am just starting to use a soaker hose in my garden,I do not know how long to leave it on to start with.Do i let it run for hours or days? I am just starting to use a soaker hose in my garden,I do not know how long to leave it on to start with.Do i let it run for hours or days?

]]> By: Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14622 Digger Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:19:01 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14622 I don't see why soaker hoses wouldn't help. Just don't run them so much the ground gets too mushy and the blocks sink some. The goal is to keep even moisture around the foundation, which in your case are the blocks. You basically have a pier and beam type foundation, the concrete blocks acting as piers. Thanks for stopping by, Dave. I don’t see why soaker hoses wouldn’t help. Just don’t run them so much the ground gets too mushy and the blocks sink some. The goal is to keep even moisture around the foundation, which in your case are the blocks. You basically have a pier and beam type foundation, the concrete blocks acting as piers.
Thanks for stopping by, Dave.

]]> By: Dave http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14621 Dave Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:36:05 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14621 I have a double wide mobilhome that is setting on square blocks. the ground gets extremley dry and cracks open. with the blocks being scattered under the house, would a soaker hose system even work; Thanks for a reply! I have a double wide mobilhome that is setting on square blocks. the ground gets extremley dry and cracks open. with the blocks being scattered under the house, would a soaker hose system even work; Thanks for a reply!

]]> By: Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14618 Digger Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:09:25 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14618 Usually a foot to 18 inches out from the foundation. Thanks for stopping by. Usually a foot to 18 inches out from the foundation.
Thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: rick jones http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14617 rick jones Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:14:12 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14617 How far from the house do the soaker hose's need to be ? How far from the house do the soaker hose’s need to be ?

]]> By: Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14011 Digger Thu, 07 May 2009 16:14:43 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14011 There is no need to dig a trench for the soaker hose. I do like to keep mine covered with mulch to cut down on evaporation. Simply run them often enough and long enough to maintain even moisture around the foundation. You don't want the soil to pull away from the slab, but you don't want puddles around the house either. It largely depends on the weather, how much rain you've received or if you are entering a hot dry spell. Try running the soaker hoses for 15-20 minutes at a time twice a day, see what happens, and adjust from there. There's more info on soaker hoses here: http://www.repairfoundation.net/category/soaker-hoses/ Thanks and good luck! There is no need to dig a trench for the soaker hose. I do like to keep mine covered with mulch to cut down on evaporation.
Simply run them often enough and long enough to maintain even moisture around the foundation. You don’t want the soil to pull away from the slab, but you don’t want puddles around the house either. It largely depends on the weather, how much rain you’ve received or if you are entering a hot dry spell.

Try running the soaker hoses for 15-20 minutes at a time twice a day, see what happens, and adjust from there.

There’s more info on soaker hoses here:
http://www.repairfoundation.net/category/soaker-hoses/

Thanks and good luck!

]]> By: Jennifer Wallgren http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-14009 Jennifer Wallgren Thu, 07 May 2009 15:42:24 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-14009 I have just stretched a new soaker hose around my house. We just bought the place a month ago. At the time, during inspection, there were no cracks anywhere in or around the house. It had a flawless foundation. NOW, on the other hand, there is a hairline crack in the master-bedroom. The house is 35 years old and on expansive clay. We live in South Texas and it was already 103 yesterday. We have had substantial rain for months. I dont want to ask my husband b/c I want it finished when he gets home (without his help) as a surprize. He has been out of town and unable to do this himself. I want it done right. Am I supposed to dig a trench for the hose to sit in and if so is it supposed to be covered up? How long is it supposed to be on and how often? Any help is appreciated! Thank you! I have just stretched a new soaker hose around my house. We just bought the place a month ago. At the time, during inspection, there were no cracks anywhere in or around the house. It had a flawless foundation.
NOW, on the other hand, there is a hairline crack in the master-bedroom. The house is 35 years old and on expansive clay. We live in South Texas and it was already 103 yesterday. We have had substantial rain for months.
I dont want to ask my husband b/c I want it finished when he gets home (without his help) as a surprize. He has been out of town and unable to do this himself. I want it done right. Am I supposed to dig a trench for the hose to sit in and if so is it supposed to be covered up? How long is it supposed to be on and how often?
Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

]]> By: George Runkle http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-13995 George Runkle Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:13:50 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-13995 We don't have issues here in Atlanta with expansive clay soils, so I haven't run into issues with soaker hoses. However, even in an area such as this, if you don't maintain gutters, or your lot doesn't drain properly away from the foundation, the soil your foundation sets on will lose bearing capacity as it gets saturated. Another issue that happens here is in periods of wet weather improperly compacted soils can settle suddenly, causing foundation failure. Even without expansive soils we have plenty of problems here due to poor construction. I would hate to see what we'd have here with soils like you have in Texas! George We don’t have issues here in Atlanta with expansive clay soils, so I haven’t run into issues with soaker hoses. However, even in an area such as this, if you don’t maintain gutters, or your lot doesn’t drain properly away from the foundation, the soil your foundation sets on will lose bearing capacity as it gets saturated.

Another issue that happens here is in periods of wet weather improperly compacted soils can settle suddenly, causing foundation failure.

Even without expansive soils we have plenty of problems here due to poor construction. I would hate to see what we’d have here with soils like you have in Texas!

George

]]> By: Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/comment-page-1/#comment-11724 Digger Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:08:19 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11724 Most people don't worry about soaker hoses and driveways in that the driveway represents a relatively small area compared to the rest of the foundation. Same with the patio. The soil that has pulled away should snuggle back up after the soaker hoses have done their thing. If not, you can press it back to the slab with garden tools. Good luck! Most people don’t worry about soaker hoses and driveways in that the driveway represents a relatively small area compared to the rest of the foundation. Same with the patio.

The soil that has pulled away should snuggle back up after the soaker hoses have done their thing. If not, you can press it back to the slab with garden tools.

Good luck!

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