Download the SIFON Drain Belt Install Sheets (PDF)
| Basic Guide Book |  |
| Guide w/ Diagrams | |
| Pictoral Guide | |
| 11 x 17 Poster | |
Download the SIFON Drain Belt Install Sheets (PDF)
| Basic Guide Book | |
| Guide w/ Diagrams | |
| Pictoral Guide | |
| 11 x 17 Poster | |
SIFON Drain Belt is ALWAYS laid with its inlet side facing downward. LAYING SIFON Drain Belt WITH ITS INLET SIDE FACING UPWARDS WILL RESULT IN CLOGGING. Alway cut SIFON Drain Belt with a sharp razor. Scissors tear at the material and can smear the micro siphon outlets.
To create a siphon effect, the SIFON Drain Belt end that enters into the collection pipe must always be lower than the rest of the belt. We recommend a minimum of 4 inches of drop into the collection pipe. The SIFON Drain Belt end that does not enter the collection pipe must be sealed with duct tape or glue. This ensures that particulates will not enter into the micro siphons from this side.
Do not lay SIFON Drain Belt directly on top of mud. Always lay it on a bed of coarse drainage sand. Placing SIFON Drain Belt directly on top of mud can cause clogging and decreased performance. Always lay SIFON Drain Belt at at least a 1% grade (3-5% recommended). Make sure that the Sand layer is compacted and will not settle. A good way of compacting sand is to wet it. As a general rule, the higher the elevation of the SIFON Drain Belt belting, the
better the performance.
Always use coarse (.5-2mm) and clean drainage sand. Fine and dirty sand mixtures will lead to decreased and slower performance. (Sieve specification - Everything passing the #10 sieve and retained on the #40 sieve)
SIFON Drain Belt is laid out much like conventional systems. For surface drainage and most subsurface drainage, we recommend laying SIFON Drain Belt on alternating 5 foot centers like the diagram below. It is always good practice to concentrate SIFON Drain Belt in very saturated low areas to target problem areas. For very wet problem areas, shorten the centers to 3 foot alternating spacing. This will ensure fast and efficient drainage.
Trench PVC trench first, then dig trenches for the SIFON Drain Belt belts. Trench only as wide as the PVC pipe (for 2" pipe trench 2" wide). Trench at least a 1 degree drop for this trench. Make sure that the bottom of this trench is a minimum of 4" below the bottom depth of the SIFON Drain Belt trenches. Sections of pipe that do not have SIFON Drain Belt connected to them should be backfilled with the excavated soil.
When trenching SIFON Drain Belt trenches, trench at least 12" wide (this gives room on the sides for the water to get around and into the drain belt). Trench at least 12" deep. The deeper the trench, the better the drainage. Lay 1-2" of course drainage sand on the bottom of this trench, then lay the SIFON Drain Belt over top this at a 3-5 degree grade.
Fill to the top of the trenches with sand, fill at least the top 6 inches with a sand/peat mix (80% sand, 20% peat) if you want to grow grass on top.
Using a circular hand grinder with a 1/16" (2mm) cutting wheel, cut an 8 inch slot. P 1. osition the pipe so the slots are
at an approximate 45 degree angle of elevation. Insert the SIFON Drain Belt belt into the pipe (for a 2" pipe insert belt at least 1" into the pipe). Then, using PVC cement or duct tape, seal the back side (smooth side) of the SIFON Drain Belt where it intersects with the PVC. Also seal any extra space at the sides of the slot.Seal the other end of the belt with either PVC cement or duct tape (this will prevent sediment from entering the backside of the belt).
As an optional securing method, plastic ties can be used to secure the belt to the PVC pipe. Using a hole punch or
awl, make a hole at each side (approximately .75" to 1" from side and 1.5" to 2" from cut edge). Insert the SIFON Drain Belt belt into the pipe (for a 2" pipe insert belt at least 1" into the pipe). Then, wrap tie around PVC and through the holes to secure. Pull tight. Using duct tape, seal the back side (smooth side) of the SIFON Drain Belt where it intersects with the PVC. Also seal any extra space at the sides of the slot. Seal the other end of the belt with duct tape (this will prevent
sediment from entering the backside of the belt).