In-ground Trampoline Drainage Best Practices
Backyard trampolines have been entertaining American families across the country for decades now. But as homeowners increasingly look to accommodate the kids while also keeping a beautiful, low profile in the lawn, in-ground buried trampolines have become more popular. One question we are regularly asked here at Trampolines.com, is “What do you need for preparation for in-ground trampolines?” This article will help you better understand what is required as you prepare your yard for an in-ground trampoline installation.
Step 1: First you will need to determine whether your in-ground trampoline will need drainage. If you live somewhere with a wet climate, it will be very important to ensure proper drainage for the hole under your in-ground trampoline. If you’ve ever dug a hole in your yard and had it fill up with water, this is what will also happen with your trampoline. For nearly all installations, we recommend doing at least some form of water mitigation for your in-ground trampoline just to avoid any potential problems later on.
Step 2: You must determine which type of drainage solution will do the trick for your situation. Depending on the amount of water you will be dealing with, whether you can run electricity to the trampoline hole, and how much work you want to do upfront, there are different types of drainage that you can set up.
As needed drainage. For occasional water buildup after a storm, you can keep handy a pump and an extension cord to use as needed. Plug the extension cord into an outlet, put the drainage hose in your garden or wherever you’d like the water to drain to, and put the pump into the water. This is a basic solution for your in-ground trampoline drainage system.
A drain pipe. A non-electric solution that is straightforward for your trampoline drainage installation is a drain pipe. A four inch drain pipe is sufficient to remove water from your trampoline hole. The pipe will feed from the bottom of the hole to somewhere else lower in your yard. This is a great solution that requires a little bit of work at the beginning, but then will be less maintenance going forward.
An installed pump. If you will have more than occasional water, and you need a solution that is always ready to drain, installing a pump may be your best bet. In the bottom of your trampoline hole, bury a 5 gallon bucket with the top open and level with the rest of the hole. Water will collect in the hole and be pumped out by the submersible pump you have installed. The pump will need an electric power source and a trench for the cable and outlet hose. The pump can be activated by a manual switch or an automatic float switch that activates with the water level.
These are some of your options for draining water under your in-ground trampoline. These are not required for all trampolines, but we definitely recommend one of these solutions, especially if you live in a wetter climate.