Hey everyone, I'm curious about something I just learned today. I've been in the commercial landscaping business for a while now, but I've never come across the idea of gluing drain pipes. A customer brought it up, and I was surprised since I thought drainage pipes were designed to let water flow freely. I'm wondering about the practices around drainage systems, like downspouts and culverts, in both residential and commercial settings. Do you think gluing is necessary or even a good idea?
3 Answers
Good point about the freezing! Depending on where you live and the depth of your installation, pipes can definitely freeze. I appreciate the tips to explain this to my customer. It’s something I hadn’t considered before!
You really shouldn’t glue drainage pipes. They're meant to leak a little, and a lot of them are already drilled with holes. If you're worried about connections, like with downspouts, just use screws to hold them together. Gluing isn’t needed at all.
True! In areas with good drainage systems, I go for 6-inch pipes to avoid pressure issues during storms. I've only had problems when things weren’t fitted correctly.
Yeah, no need to glue unless it's a non-pressurized spot, but I do solvent weld PVC under patios for peace of mind. For corrugated pipes, I sometimes tape them together until I can backfill, but they don't really glue well.
I haven't worked under patios before! I've heard about taping joints too, but I worry it might be a quick fix. Seems like opinions are split on that.
I totally agree. I work in newer neighborhoods, and things tend to settle. I usually just hammer them into place and make sure they’re level so that any water flows properly.