I have a micro channel drain that runs the length of my pool deck. It's probably 30 years old and has dirt and roots caked on the inside. I am almost done ripping it out, but it runs behind an electrical conduit.

I'm having to use a 12-inch sawzall blade because the drain is 9 inches in depth. My wife is scared I'm going to hit something electrical.

Anyone think of a problem??

Turn off the power and use a hacksaw so you have complete control. Sawzalls can get away from you in an instant.

Cow Hop Ag said:

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Turn off the power and use a hacksaw so you have complete control. Sawzalls can get away from you in an instant.

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I'm going to turn off the power, and you're right, I almost cut my foot off yesterday when I hit a large root. However, this drain and the roots are so deep and embedded I have to use the Sawzall.

I know nothing about electrical. Would you say that the pipes that the electrical is housed in probably go straight down for a few feet, then turn 90 degrees toward the pool?

I would think so.

How many feet do you have to remove still? I would use a sharpshooter and start digging down where you know it is safe and work from there until you can lift the old line upwards until you can see where the electrical goes. After that spot then the sawzall would work fine.

Those conduits go down A. as low as they needed to or B. as shallow as they could get away with. There's also a chance they run to one side.

what is the purpose of digging out the drain?

You don't need to remove it all the way down to 9" around the conduits. Just take off the top.

TexAg1987 said:

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what is the purpose of digging out the drain?

You don't need to remove it all the way down to 9" around the conduits. Just take off the top.

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This is an old drain (pool built in 1985) - there is no top like they make now. It's one piece (1.75 inches wide by 8 or 9 inches deep) that is full of dirt and roots. Water can't drain and pools up when it rains and leaves dirt all over the pea gravel deck.

You wouldn't believe the size of the roots I'm pulling out, and how they've grown flat and in other shapes.

rlb28 said:

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TexAg1987 said:

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what is the purpose of digging out the drain?

You don't need to remove it all the way down to 9" around the conduits. Just take off the top.

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This is an old drain (pool built in 1985) - there is no top like they make now. It's one piece (1.75 inches wide by 8 or 9 inches deep) that is full of dirt and roots. Water can't drain and pools up when it rains and leaves dirt all over the pea gravel deck.

You wouldn't believe the size of the roots I'm pulling out, and how they've grown flat and in other shapes.

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So you are just clearing the channel.

The electrical should run in a fairly straight line between what it is connected to.

I would skip over the section right near the conduit and keep clearing out the drain. Then go back and clear out that section with some hand tools. Maybe by then you can clear out some of the dirt from around the roots and see better what you are cutting.

Other option would be to saw cut the paving about 6" from the foundation to allow some room to work, dig out all of the old drain and reset a new drain then pour back your deck.

no, not just clearing the channel drain - removing it and going to install another one that has a cap/top that can be removed to clear it out every so often.

I want to cut about 3-5 inches from the foundation and install a wider drain, but then I have that conduit sitting there and I'm not smart enough to figure out how to put in a larger drain with the conduit there. So... I'll probably have to go back with the same size drain and go BEHIND the conduit again.

thanks for the thoughts on the conduit. I think it runs out to the pool for the light that doesn't work in the pool. LOL!

I've removed about 30 feet of drain so far and broken a nice Sawzall in the process. The roots are so big and strong it's like I'm using a jack hammer.

I'm not sure what the new drain cross section looks like, but based on the information you've shared, I wouldn't go through the hassle you are if you're wanting to install a new, wider drain. Sawcut the slab to the width needed for the new drain. Rip out the old drain and roots and whatever else is in the way (except electrical). Figure out a way to connect the drain from the left side of the conduit to the drain on the right side of the conduit. Leave everything within 6" of either side of the conduit as is. You'll end up with a new drain except in the 12-15" right at the conduit. The amount of water that could pool there would be negligible (IMO).

Or you could run the new drain 6" in front of the house so that it will run completely in front of the conduit. Then when you pour back the section between the drain and the house, build it up and slope it back towards the drain so you don't pool water between the drain and the house.

Agree with above.

The existing drain looks like it was compressed between the deck and foundation. No way you are getting the same size drain to fit.

Yeah.. I would move it or just french drain in that tight space.

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Figure out a way to connect the drain from the left side of the conduit to the drain on the right side of the conduit.

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This is what I'd like to do. Just gotta figure out a way.

Thanks for the responses.