Selecting Farm Drain Tile

AE No. 10 Agricultural Engineering Department SELECTING FARM DRAIN TILE Gerald A. Karstens Farm drain tile made from clay, shale, or concrete will give satisfactory service if properly made and installed. Good farm drain tile should be dense, uniform in shape, have proper strength, and be free from checks, cracks, or foreign material which will cause slacking or disintegration. The prospective buyer can determine the soundness of the tile by placing a dry specimen tile on end and striking with a light hammer. If a clear ring is given off, the tile may be accepted as sound. The tile may be inspected for ,uniformity in shape, wall thickness, checks, cracks, or foreign material. As a further precaution, The American Society for Testing Materials has prepared specifications for drain tile. It is good practice in making purchases to stipulate that the tile meet these specifications, particularly as to strength and density. There are no records to indicate the useful life of drain tile when properly installed. Concrete tile, according to available information, will last as long as clay or shale tile, with but two exceptions. Concrete tile is not recommended in Peat or Muck soils, due to the action of the acids found in these soils, nor is concrete tile recommended where the ground water or soils contain strong alkali salts. According to available information, soils in Indiana do not have a concentration of alkali salts great enough to materially affect concrete. Contrary to popular belief, ground water should enter the tile at the joints and will not seep through the side walls in an appreciable quantity. Good quality tile should be dense and should absorb a minimum amount of water. Tile should not be stored on the surface of the ground during the winter. The tile will absorb moisture from the ground and will crumble or weaken after being subjected to freezing temperatures. Stack the tile on planks outside, or for better protection inside a building