Drainage Products Contractors Forget
Until They Need Them
As a contractor, you know the feeling … the heavy materials are unloaded, the trench is dug and the pipe, basin or drainage system is ordered and ready to go. But right as the installation begins, the crew realizes they are missing the specific fitting, adapter, clamp or connector needed to tie everything together.
Suddenly, a relatively inexpensive component becomes the exact thing holding up the entire project. What should have been a straightforward connection turns into a stalled crew and a wasted afternoon.
When managing a drainage job, it is easy to focus entirely on the primary run of pipe or the main catch basins. But having the right drainage supplies on hand — from fittings and connectors to installation accessories and tools — can be just as important for keeping the project moving.
Taking a few extra minutes to verify every connection before heading to the jobsite helps contractors reduce downtime and eliminate unnecessary supply runs. Keeping your crew productive means looking beyond the pipe itself and making sure you have the right components on hand to finish the installation cleanly and efficiently.
Drainage Couplers, Connectors and Adapters
No two jobsite setups are identical. Different pipe sizes, materials and system components often require specific connections to help create a secure, properly installed system. Transitioning from corrugated pipe to smooth wall, stepping up or down in diameter or tying into an existing concrete or PVC structure requires the right connection.
Having the right couplers on hand helps keep pipe runs properly connected from end to end. Using the appropriate connectors and pipe fittings can also help avoid makeshift field fixes that may create problems later. When different materials or pipe sizes meet, the right adapter helps create the connection the job requires.
Drainage Fittings for Changes in Direction and Transitions
Layout challenges can change by the minute on your jobsite too. To keep the job moving without interruption, map out changes in direction, connections and transitions before ordering. Having the right fittings on hand prevents last-minute scrambles when the trench is open.
Depending on the installation, commonly needed drainage fittings may include tees and wyes for branching lines, elbows for changes in direction, reducers for transitioning between pipe sizes and end caps for terminating runs. Thinking through these connections before ordering can help reduce last-minute supply runs once the trench is open.
Clamps, Seals and Drainage Installation Accessories
Even with the right pipe and fittings staged on-site, smaller installation components can make a big difference when it's time to complete the connection. Clamps, gaskets, seals, tape and other accessories may all play a role depending on the products and application.
Nothing kills momentum faster than reaching the final stages of an installation only to realize a necessary clamp, seal or other accessory is missing. Having the appropriate installation accessories on hand can help crews avoid unnecessary supply runs and keep the job moving.
Drainage Outlets and Pop-Up Emitters
While it may be easy to spend significant time planning how water enters and moves through a drainage system, the final discharge point can sometimes become an afterthought. Leaving the outlet to chance risks surface erosion or pooling right where water exits the line.
Products like NDS Pop-Up Drainage Emitters provide a discharge point at the end of the drainage system while maintaining a low-profile appearance when not in use. Having the appropriate outlet on hand helps contractors account for the entire drainage system — from collection through final discharge.
Access Covers, Valve Boxes and Marking Products
An installation doesn't end when the backfill hits the trench. Thinking beyond the initial build means planning for future service and maintenance down the road. Burying critical system components without a clear way to locate or reach them creates major headaches years — or even months — later.
Using valve boxes, access covers and appropriate marking products can help keep cleanouts, control points and junctions easier to locate and protect. Planning for future access can also help reduce accidental landscape damage and give property owners and service crews easier access when maintenance is required.
Drainage Jobsite Tools for Measuring, Marking and Cutting
Getting the installation right the first time starts long before the pipe goes into the ground. Having the right tools on hand for precise layout, marking and clean cuts keeps the workflow steady and eliminates guesswork in the trench.
The right measuring, marking and cutting tools can make installation easier from layout through final connections. DSI carries jobsite tools from manufacturers including Keson and REED, giving contractors access to measuring wheels, marking products, pipe cutters and other tools for the work ahead.
Having dependable jobsite tools on hand also helps crews adjust without unnecessarily slowing down the installation.
Find the Drainage Supplies You Need at DSI
Don’t let a missing part become the reason the job stops. Before heading to your next project, make sure you have the fittings, connections, accessories and tools needed to see it through.
Drainage Solutions Inc. carries drainage and septic supplies for installation and maintenance, including pipe and fittings, catch basins and grates, drainage accessories, septic products and jobsite tools.
Shop online or visit one of our Indiana locations in Franklin, Lebanon, Greenfield or Leesburg, to find the products you need for the job ahead.