How to Plan Water Supply and Drainage for a Blow-Up Slip n Slide

Setting up a blow-up Slip 'n Slide is more than just stretching the vinyl out and attaching it to an air blower. No matter whether it is a superior inflatable or not, there will at some time be friction patches, overflowing splash zones, and an over-watered yard for weeks. Even water delivery, directing water flow, and separating water and electricity will ensure consistent lubrication to maintain safe and healthy equipment and safe grass.

Assess Your Water Supply Before Setup

The sliding lane remains slippery while also ensuring that the plumbing of the house doesn’t get all used up. Before anchoring the inflatable, it's important to understand your outdoor water source to help identify what adjustments to make ahead of time.

■ Locate the Nearest Outdoor Spigot

The first step is to identify the distance from the main outside hose bib to the area in which you will be establishing your setup. The spigot should be within 50 to 100 feet of the inflatable's misting manifold. It's better to avoid having hoses that are located on walkways, as it can cause pressure drops. An ASSE 1011-approved anti-siphon vacuum breaker will ensure that there is no backflow returning to your potable system.

■ Check Water Pressure and Available Flow Rate

The static water pressure for residential and commercial water slides should be between 40 and 60 PSI. A screw-on pressure gauge can be used to check the output of your spigot within seconds. The flow rate is determined by filling a 5-gallon bucket in 30-60 seconds, which is equivalent to 5-10 gallons per minute (GPM) and is sufficient for multi-arch sprayers.

■ Choose the Right Garden Hose Length and Diameter

The internal friction loss directly relates to the volume delivered over the distance that it has to cover by a hose. A garden hose (5/8" or heavy-duty 3/4") can be used for a blow-up slip n slide; lighter (1/2") hoses will have a reduced range of over 50 feet. Don't chain multiple short hoses together; choose the shortest one to your desired distance instead.

■ Inspect Hose Connections for Leaks and Kinks

Before pressurizing the line, make sure to inspect every one of the O-rings and rubber washers on brass or polymer couplings. If the leak occurs at the connection at the spigot or slide adapter, the line pressure is lost and is used to atomize the water by the overhead spray nozzles. Allow the hose to sit in the sun for 15 minutes before connecting it so it becomes less stiff, but make sure that it is not twisted when in use.

Calculate Water Usage and Control Flow

Believe it or not, inflatable water slides don't need to be run through an open tap at full volume all day. Predictable water bills and reduced ground saturation are the benefits of controlling flow.

■ Estimate Water Consumption Based on GPM and Runtime

The initial, or filling, charge of a splash pool is usually between 50 and 150 gallons depending on the size of the pool. The integrated blow-up slip-n-slide has a low-friction water flow rate of 1.5 GPM (90 gallons per hour) to 3 GPM (180 gallons per hour) when filled. This will be between 400 and 750 gallons for a 4-hour event.

■ Adjust Water Flow to Match the Slide's Requirements

Keep the spigot open too much - A lot of overspray will be blown off the side walls in the wind. Rather, turn on the tap until the overhead misters or soaker tubes form a steady stream of water down the vinyl lane and then turn it off. Just enough volume is required to keep the landing pool cushioned, and the surface of the sliding surface wet at all times.

■ Use a Hose Splitter or Shutoff Valve for Better Control

A good, heavy-duty brass Y-splitter or an inline ball valve should be placed between your garden hose and the inflatable's built-in misting line. Operators can adjust the amount of spray right at the unit using an inline shutoff valve, or even tie a secondary rinse hose to the unit for dirty feet if desired, without having to "walk-and-talk" back and forth to the house spigot.

■ Reduce Water Waste During Breaks and Downtime

Turn off the inline water valve when the rider takes a water break or rests, but continue to keep the air blower on. The unit being inflated will keep any leftover pool water from flowing into the internal air chambers through the stitching, and pausing the sprayers will save up to 150 gallons of pool water per hour from running away.

Choose the Right Setup Location and Drainage Direction

As crucial as the route that water takes to get in the splash pool is the route water takes to get out. The proper design positioning of the unit, through gravity and soil mechanics, will avoid damage to property.

■ Check Yard Slope and Natural Low Spots

The setup surface should be relatively level (maximum 5% grade) in accordance with ASTM F2374 safety guidelines for inflatable amusement devices. But a gradual slope of just 1-2% of just 1% slope, from the entry end to the splash pool allows water to naturally drain down the lane and eliminates puddles from forming around the climbing or launch deck. Try to avoid placing the landing pool on a sunken yard depression.

■ Direct Runoff Away From Foundations and Electrical Equipment

Place the splash zone and drain flaps on the downslope side of your property to avoid any overflow from the windows in your basement, crawl spaces, or concrete slab foundation. The hydrostatic pressure against walls that are below the home foundation can be caused by saturated soil nearby. Secondly, ensure the natural flow of water is away from the blower unit as well as the extension cords.

■ Evaluate Soil Type and Water Absorption

The splash-out of different types of soils can occur at widely varying rates:

▸ Sandy and Loamy Soils: Absorb 1 to 2 inches of water an hour, and last with only a little surface pooling to allow for hours of play.

▸ Compacted Clay Soils: Absorb less than 0.2 inches per hour; water sheets immediately across the surface. In heavy clay yards, improve the drainage by matting the surface a couple of days prior to setup and/or by moving the exit point to a temporary drainage mat, which will help with surface slickness.

■ Plan a Safe, Permitted Runoff Destination

Capture the excess runoff from the fields in rain gardens, French drains with gravel, deep-rooted edge landscaping or use existing turf swales. Don't allow large volumes of water to run into the street gutters or storm drains until it has been confirmed that it has been treated with any sanitizing chemicals and is free to allow large volumes of water.

Prevent Pooling, Mud, and Lawn Damage During Use

However, at the time of the event, you can keep the roots of the grass and keep the perimeter safe for bare feet by keeping it active.

■ Monitor Standing Water Around the Slide and Splash Zone

Riders come out of the splash pool carrying ½ gallon of water. Monitoring of the perimeter is to be carried out every 45 minutes. If water is starting to flow over the ankle around the exit lip, close the inline hose valve slightly. The water in the pool is automatically replenished by the misting system, without needing to fill the pool constantly.

■ Protect High-Traffic Entry and Exit Areas

In almost an hour, if the foot traffic is high, it's easy for the wet grass to shear the turf and turn wet topsoil into mud. Use connected ground mats at:

▸ Entrances

▸ Slopes

▸ Exits

Ensure these mats are leveled with the ground to ensure that they do not create a tripping hazard.

■ Manage Runoff on Grass, Artificial Turf, and Hard Surfaces

A unique strategy must be used for each setup surface when creating a blow-up slip n slide:

▸ Natural Grass: cover the unit with a permeable ground tarp to protect the vinyl from damage, but still allow the water to drain down.

▸ Artificial Turf: make sure there are good drainage weep holes in the underlying crushed stone sub-base and rinse the turf to get rid of any heat buildup.

▸ Concrete or Asphalt: make sure you have thick commercial under-padding underneath the vinyl to prevent it from being punctured by friction and use a squeegee or a broom to push any standing puddles towards the expansion joints to avoid creating a slip hazard on the surrounding pavement.

■ Know When to Pause Water Flow and Reassess the Site

If the soil around the anchoring stakes is spongy or waterlogged, then turn the water off straight away. Up to 50% of the shear resistance is lost in saturated soil, and the stakes can become quite loose under dynamic rider load. If water is collecting in the stake holes, then add more stake holes at a 45-degree angle to the firmer adjacent soil or add further heavy-duty sandbags.

Keep the Water Supply and Electrical Equipment Safely Separated

The use of pressurized water and high-draw blowers requires high levels of electrical safety.

■ Route Hoses Away From Power Cords and Walkways

Avoid crossing the yard with garden hose and electrical cord. Avoid grouping them together or crossing over active pedestrian areas. If a hose or cable needs to cross over a walkway, use high-visibility cord ramps so that a guest doesn't trip or pull the blower housing.

■ Keep the Blower and Electrical Connections in the Required Dry Area

Make sure the air inflation tube is completely extended so the blower is at least 6-10 ft. from the slide body on high, dry ground. Raise the blower plug and extension cord, using a dry platform for the plug and extension cord, or wrapping the plug junction in an IP65-rated plastic sleeve around the extension cord so ground runoff and windblown mist never come in contact with live plugs.

■ Follow GFCI Protection and Manufacturer Instructions

The NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) requirement in Article 680 requires all outdoor receptacles feeding power to equipment around water to be protected by GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). Do a test on the GFCI outlet before you connect the blower to the power source; since continuous use will cause the blower to overheat and be damaged, the recommended extension cord for the blower is a heavy-duty (12-gauge (12 AWG)), outdoor extension cord, maximum length 50 feet.

Drain and Dry the Inflatable Slip ’N Slide After Use

Good teardown ensures the PVC seams are kept in good condition and aids in the prevention of mould growth during storage. A wet inflatable can be twice as heavy as a dry inflatable and emit permanent mildew smells in as few as 48 hours.

■ Turn Off the Water and Follow the Correct Shutdown Sequence

Turn off the misting system without turning the garden hose off (leave the air blower on). If the structure is kept inflated, the water will be deflected off the top walls and out of the stitching lines of the structure as it is being drained out of the bottom.

■ Open the Designated Drain Valves and Empty the Splash Pool

Look for the Velcro or zipper drain flaps at the bottom of the splash pool and don't turn an inflated pool upside down, as the weight of the water could actually tear the baffle seams. Once the main water's drained, turn the blower off for 30 seconds to allow the perimeter water to relax and release from the walls, then turn the blower back on to dry the pool.

■ Remove Remaining Water From the Sliding Surface

Remove any detachable sliding sheets or pool liners to allow the air to circulate through the Velcro strips. Apply to the corner crevices, the bumper seams and the stitch lines using old cotton bath towels, a chamois mop, or a cordless leaf blower to blast the droplets out of the corners.

■ Dry the Inflatable Thoroughly Before Storage

Place the blow-up slip 'n slide in direct sun for 1-2 hours with the air blower on until the exterior vinyl, the underside tarp, and the Velcro flaps are dry to the touch. Once deflated, roll it into its own storage bag, fold it in towards the air outlet tubes to get all the air out, and store in a dry, rodent-free area.

Common Water Supply and Drainage Problems and How to Fix Them

■ The Slide Surface Is Not Getting Wet Enough

Look for sharp kinks in the garden hose either near the spigot or on the ground. Look out for any buildup of minerals or grass clippings on the overhead misting nozzles. If the nozzle tips are clogged, then unscrew them and dip them for 15 minutes in white vinegar to help re-establish an even spray pattern.

■ Water Pressure Drops When Other Fixtures Are Used

Indoor spigot pressure can drop to less than 30 PSI when you're running the indoor showers, washing machines, or lawn irrigation at the same time. Turn off your automatic sprinkler timers prior to the event and don't run any of the high-demand appliances during the slide.

■ Water Keeps Pooling Around the Landing Area

This happens when the input is greater than the absorption by the soil or when the splash zone is in a low area. Reduce the inline valve flow by 30%, place perforated rubber mats at the exit or lay a temporary corrugated drain pipe from the overflow edge of the pool to a lower point in the yard.

■ The Yard Becomes Muddy or Waterlogged

When bare dirt is becoming visible through grass at the launch and/or exit area, stop watering and place interlocking event flooring or a wide piece of turf on the heavily used transition area to spread foot traffic.

■ Water Remains Inside the Inflatable After Draining

During hours of use, water can creep in through the smallest of holes (pinholes, seam needle holes) into the internal air bladder. When the unit is still inflated, place the front end on some blocks slightly, so that the water inside moves towards the rear "deflation zipper" and then open the lower flap just a little so that the water trapped inside can be released due to the air pressure.

Water Supply and Drainage Checklist

Conclusion

The secret to a trouble-free blow-up slip n slide is how the water is managed from the water spigot all the way to the final cycle in the drain. An early check of line pressure to reduce misting of the outer arches, so as not to leave pools and total drying before storage, will provide a rapid, low-friction slide with no wet lawns or mildew. Looking for ready-to-roll site preparation combined with equipment engineered to meet the demands of demanding applications? Stop by Joy Inflatable and see their selection of heavy-duty, customizable inflatable slip and slides designed for easy water management and all-season use.

FAQ

Q. How Much Water Does an Inflatable Slip’N Slide Use?

Most inflatable slip and slides use overhead misting nozzles of 90 – 180 gallons per hour (1.5 – 3 GPM) after the first fill of the pool with water (50 – 150 gallons). With an inline valve to throttle the spray, the total usage is kept at 400 to 600 gallons for an entire afternoon.

Q. What Water Pressure Does an Inflatable Slip’N Slide Need?

Generally, 40 to 60 PSI is the optimum water pressure. If water does not move regularly to the top arches of the slide at pressure below 30 PSI, it will not move without an inline valve at pressure above 70 PSI to prevent fitting blowouts.

Q. Can You Use a Regular Garden Hose for an Inflatable Slip’N Slide?

So, almost all consumer and commercial inflatables come with a standard 5/8 or 3/4 inch garden hose fitting that can be directly connected to the inflatable. Don't use expandable fabric hoses or narrow 1/2 inch coiled hoses—these limit the amount of water that can be provided.

Q. How Do You Keep Water From Pooling Around a Slip’N Slide?

Place the inflatable on a slight 1 to 2 percent slope to allow water to flow out of the splash-out drains, reduce the flow of water through the pool once full, and place perforated drainage mats at entry and exit steps to avoid compaction of the turf.

Q. How Do You Drain an Inflatable Slip’N Slide After Use?

Shut off the water hose first, keep the blower on to keep the structure stiff, and then open the bottom drain flap on the splash pool to direct the water into a planned swale for drainage. Deflate after 1-2 hours while the blower is operating, removing dirt from the vinyl by wiping it down.

Q. Can You Reuse or Recycle Water From an Inflatable Slip’N Slide?

Yes. Place a submersible utility pump in the splash area. Then connect a second garden hose to the pump. Direct the water to trees, flower beds, or dry areas of the lawn before opening the drain valve.

Q. What Wind Speed is Unsafe for Inflatables?

Evacuate and deflate an inflatable when sustained winds or gusts are 15 to 20 mph or as noted on the unit's specific manufacturer's tag (some lighter units have a 15 mph maximum).