Method and device for improving drainage away from buildings

Abstract

A method and device for enhancing water percolation around a building or improvement area includes drilling a series of seepage holes beyond the deflector plates with drainage rods installed in the respective holes extending downwardly into the soil. The drainage rods comprise a cluster of integrally joined generally tubular features each formed with a lengthwise extending slot. Migrating ground water intercepts the rods, enters the slots and drains down the rods to enhance water percolation into the soil.

1 . A method of improving drainage around the perimeter of a building foundation or pavement comprising: 
 said rods are installed into the bottom of said trench and said trench is backfilled over the top ends of said rod; and    installing a series of drainage rods into a series of seepage holes drilled into the soil beyond said foundation or pavement, said drainage rods having a series of lengthwise tubular features defined therein slotted to the outside, said rods extending to a depth below said foundation, whereby soil moisture tends to enter slots therein and drain downwardly through said tubes to enhance percolation of water into the soil around said building or pavement.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  further including blocking the top end of each of said rods.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein some of said tubular features are formed by curving a side wall back towards a center region of said rod with a gap defining a longitudinal slot.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2  including forming said rods of polyethylene plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said rods are installed extending vertically into the soil.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  further including excavating a shallow trench along said perimeter; and 
 installing a continuous series of deflector plates along said trench a short distance below grade.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  further including installing sealing strips over the upper edge of an upright leg of said deflector plates, a top portion of said sealing strips remaining above grade after backfilling said trench.  
   
   
       8 . A drainage rod comprised of a cluster of integrally joined lengthwise extending tubular features each having a lengthwise extending slot.  
   
   
       9 . The drainage rod according to  claim 8  further includes a central generally tubular portion also having a lengthwise extending slot, said central portion surrounded by said cluster of tubular features.  
   
   
       10 . The drainage rod according to  claim 8  wherein said drainage rod is constructed of plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The drainage rod according to  claim 8  wherein the upper end of said rod is closed off.