4 Reasons To Choose Concrete Replacement Soakwells For Your Home
Soakwells are are a vitally important component of many homes. These simple underground drainage devices capture and contain rainwater runoff that cannot be absorbed by the soil on your property and help to prevent excessive soil erosion and foundation undermining that can seriously damage your home.
Unfortunately, soakwells do not last forever, and many homes (especially relatively new homes) are fitted with inexpensive soakwells made from relatively fragile polypropylene plastic. If your home has been inspected for drainage problems and you find that you need new soakwells, here are four reasons to invest in replacement soakwells made from concrete:
Durability And Longevity
Concrete soakwells generally cost considerably more to purchase and install than plastic soakwells, but this extra investment can be well worth it. Concrete soakwells are far more durable and long-lasting than their polypropylene counterparts and are more resistant to pressures and shearing strain caused by shifting and/or expansive soils.
High Capacity Models Available
If you are unable to connect your soakwells to a local drainage or sewer system, choosing high capacity soakwells is a must. If you choose soakwells that are too small, they will need to be emptied more regularly, increasing your soakwell maintenance costs. Failing to empty smaller soakwells frequently can lead to catastrophic flooding in and around your home.
Concrete has much greater load-bearing strength than polypropylene and can, therefore, be used to create much larger soakwells capable of containing thousands of gallons of collected rainwater. Choosing high capacity concrete soakwells will minimise the cost of having your soakwells emptied, making them a better long-term investment despite their higher upfront cost.
Suitable For High Traffic Areas
The superior load-bearing strength of concrete soakwells also has another advantage. A well-made concrete soakwell can bear the weight of cars and other heavy objects passing overhead and can, therefore, be installed beneath driveways and other high traffic areas safely.
If you have limited underground space available on your property, choosing concrete soakwells will provide more options for installation locations. This makes them particularly useful if you live in a small urban property with numerous underground installations (such as gas pipes), or your home is constructed on a narrow lot that doesn't have much spare ground space.
Resistant To Clogging
Concrete soakwells also have larger openings than plastic alternatives, which are steeply sloped and allow rainwater to enter the soakwell tank freely. As a result, they are less likely to become clogged with fallen leaves, litter and other loose debris than plastic soakwells. If your home is overlooked by deciduous trees or located close to busy commercial locations with unprotected waste disposal facilities, concrete soakwells can be worth their weight in gold.
Reach out to a local paving contractor to learn more about soakwells.