How to install a cost-effective grey water soakaway crate for washing machine. Similar to dry well

In this video I explain how I installed a soakaway crate to take the discharge of grey water from my laundry/washing machine.
The drain pipe at my property ran down the yard and discharged onto the surface of the ground which I was not happy about.
I explain the type of crate I chose, how I sized it for my needs and how it was installed into the ground.
I hope you find this useful and informative !

[@murraymadness4674]

Instead of a crate you can just use a 5 gallon bucket, upside down, so it protects any dirt getting into the bucket (same idea as the landscape material, which btw I've found it deteriorates after a year or so) the water just goes onto the rocks. You can use something bigger than a 5 gallon bucket, a small mortar mixing pan provides more area under the cover. Just some other suggestions, your approach will work. Btw, I'd also add some holes in the tubing so some water gets out on the way, just not too big of holes..

[@antonystringfellow5152]

Thanks!
Sounds simpler too and you can buy them anywhere.

[@ursamajor6546]

Apart from filming in portrait rather than landscape, this is an excellent video. Many thanks 👍 👍

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Thanks ! Yes, I graduated to landscape format on my later videos 🙂

[@ursamajor6546]

@@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293
I noticed 👍😊

[@soonerbeagles2229]

Just wondered if anyone had tried to do this and made a video and stumbled onto your vid. Many thanks for posting this, helped to give me a starting point for my own design.

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Great - happy it helped point you in the right direction !

[@matterhart]

Fantastic video! Thank you so much. Really useful details.

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Thanks Matt. Glad it was useful. Good luck with your project

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Look out for my next video - tips on how to use a wood chipper and avoid common problems such as jamming !

[@jholmesgt]

Great job and thx for posting. How's it working out so far? I love the soak away crate. I'm curious whether you considered lining the hole with landscaping fabric to keep the gravel clean and separated from the dirt? I'm considering doing this at my home in the southern US. We have very clay like soil here and I'm worried the dirt will clog the spaces between the gravel over time.

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Hi. Thanks for the comment. From my understanding the landscape fabric is to prevent dirt getting into the crate. From what I read it is used to cover the crate but not between the gravel and soil. Landscape fabric restricts the flow of water and acts as a sort of filter. I understand your concern If you put it between the gravel and the soil you have to expect that the water will pool and sit in the gravel. What I would suggest instead is to put 2 or 3 different grades of gravel with the finer gravel against the soil and the coarser against the fabric which is around the crate. Also since your soil is heavy try to set the crate on a slope etc if possible rather than in a hollow or dip. It will need all the help it can get to drain. Finally an extra crate or two to increase the capacity might be a good move. Hope this helps. Good luck

[@jholmesgt]

@@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293 Sounds like solid advice. Thanks for the ideas. Much appreciated

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

HOWdy D-L-DIY, ...
Thank You for the Video ...
Does the "BOTTOM" of the CRATE need Landscape-Cloth applied ? ...
or
would it be better to leave it BARE to the Earth ( on the "bottom" ONLY ?
Thanks again
COOP
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA
...

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Howdy ! :) All the professional videos seem to show it with fabric on the underneath as well, but honestly I don't see any reason (at least in my mind) why it couldn't be left open....

[@claytonsimplot9554]

Couldn't you use milk crates 6 or 8 or 9 ,depending on the pattern. A 2 x 3, 2 x 4 or a 3 x 3 shape.

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

Yes I guess milk crates could work

[@johnsometimeswrong8742]

You need to fit a seperate chamber to filter out the soap...you have just created a nice little polluted sludge pit to poison your ground water...the soap will coat your geo tex preventing the waters exit over time...not a big deal to retro fit.

[@dadlifediydoityourselflike2293]

I have a lint filter in my house that catches some soap sludge but I'm not familiar with a soap filter. I'm interested....do you have a link to some information?

[@user-nv1dr4ln6g]

🎉❤😊☆😉😘

[@mustlovedogs272]

Should have been a 2 minute video.

[@Poordirtfarmer]