AS 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.