The weep holes are placed above grade, usually between 3 to 5 inches. This holes are made by leaving open cracks unfilled with masonry cement. Some masons use tubes surrounded by mortar.

How high off the ground should weep holes be?

The height of the DPC or weep holes must not be less than 150 mm in areas where there is adjacent land (Soil etc…) to protect for ground movement. It can be reduced to 75 mm in areas where there is concrete/pavement that slope away from the wall.

How are weep holes calculated?





Total Pressure = 0.33x submerged unit weight x height + weight of water x weep-hole height. Weep holes are provided using sand or gravel drains to ensure proper functioning of these holes. The number of holes provided depends on the size of structure and height of water table.

How do you drill a weep hole in a basement?

A drill and a masonry bit can be used to drill the holes. I’d recommend a 5/8 to ¾ inch hole in each cavity. You don’t need to drill all the blocks initially. Simply concentrate on the area where water is seeping out.

How deep are weep holes?

4⅝ inches

Weep holes provide ventilation as well as drainage.



Since standard bricks are 3⅝-inch-wide, and the required air cavity between the sheathing and the wall is one inch, the total depth of weep holes is typically 4⅝ inches.

Where should weep holes be placed?





Weep holes are typically found in the outer masonry leaf of cavity walls, just above the flashing. They can also be found above windows, doors or other penetrations. They should be provided at regular intervals so as to allow any moisture collected by cavity trays to escape.

Where should weep holes be placed sump pump?

Your Weep Hole should be drilled between the discharge and check valve. The hole should be drilled downward at a 45 degree angle, pointing away from your pump but inside your pump pit. Make sure to disconnect your pump from the lines and place it in a place that is easy to drill.

How water will drain through weep holes?

Weep Holes in Brickwork



In building construction, weeps are typically found in a masonry veneer or cavity wall, just above the flashing. The cavity serves as a way to drain this water back out through the weep holes. The weep holes allow wind to create an air stream through the cavity.

How are weep holes construction?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And external masonry walls that are known as weep holes. Which mainly go unnoticed by homeowners weep holes are created to ventilate and drain the cavity between the external and internal walls.

How do you hide weep holes?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But we do have ones that are along the ground all the way around the house. Now you can buy things to put in here. There's a brand called rid old mice you can buy them on Amazon. I'll put a link in

How often do I need weep holes?

Varying according to local codes, typically these 3/8” openings are spaced apart every 24or 32 along the bottom of the wall. These openings are equivalent to a tiny sized welcome mat and open door. They are large enough to allow mice, roaches and other pests to enter the structure of the house.

When did weep holes become code?

Even if you used the code as a basis of the requirement for weep holes, you would be surprised to learn that weep holes were nor mandated in the single family code until 1983 CABO, mandated by the 1985 Kentucky Building Code. Home inspectors are calling out missing weep holed on house built before 1985.

Is it OK to put steel wool in weep holes?



Both steel wool and pot scrubbers are much too dense to allow weep holes to do their work, so while you may solve one problem in the short term, you may well create a much more serious one down the track.

Do mice Hate steel wool?

Pests like rats and mice hate chewing through steel wool, since the sharp edges hurt them the more they try to chew. Steel wool is also non-toxic, unlike many pest control solutions, so you can place it around your house without worrying about one of your pets or children getting into it.

Can rats get in through weep holes?

The weep hole leads to the wall cavity – a nice, dry safe place for pests to set up home. What’s more, the wall cavity provides access to the roof void and to the inside of the home through vents. This means any pest entering a weep hole can spread to any part of your home.

Do bugs come through weep holes?

Corrugated plastic leaves spaces large enough for small insects, like termites, or determined insects, like roaches, to pass through the weep. Steel wool needs to be recharged, as rodents will pull the material from the weep hole to gain access, or to use the steel wool in nests.

Can snakes get into your house through weep holes?



Rats, mice and lizards will get in the house thru weep holes, and snakes can go ANYWHERE they can go. Usually they will end up in the attic.

Is it OK to cover weep holes?

Whatever you do, do not fill those weep holes. They’re an integral part of the drainage system to keep water from building up behind the brick. If allowed to contact any untreated lumber, this water will cause serious wood rot, mold and, eventually, structural problems with your home.

How do you keep termites out of weep holes?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Hole. Then press firmly into the weep hole until the stopper reaches the brick. And remove the applicator. Then need to turn it around to the deeper end and push that protector further into the weep.

Can termites enter through weep holes?

Weep holes as a termite entry point



Weep holes are an important functional element in brick walls, allowing moisture to escape and providing ventilation to keep the home healthy. However, weep holes at the base of walls are often just above ground level, providing easy access for termites.

Why do bricklayers leave gaps?



Those gaps are called “weep holes” — a building code requirement that drains water out of brick exterior walls. Typically, behind the brick is a 1.5-inch cavity or air space and then the wood structure.