Some Simple rules about French Drains and Surface Drains. A French Drain should be installed when there is a large volume of water to be drained over a large area. Surface Drains are needed when the water volume is smaller, and the Drainage Area is small and focused. French Drains move away Surface Water and Sub-Surface water. Surface Drains move only surface water.
French Drain Design must take into account many variables. One consideration for a French Drain that many times is missed, is the type of soil. French Drain Design must take into account the type of soil that the French Drain runs through. If the soil is “Tight or made up of Clay, A French Drain Liner may not be necessary.
Gravel Or Limestone
The Gravel or Limestone that is used to fill the French Drain trench may be all that is needed to maintain the integrity of the trench over time. This means that dirt will not mix in with the French Drain Gravel and clog it up over time. This is not the case however if your soil is sandy or loose. A Trench Liner should be used to prevent this type of soil from moving into the gravel of the French Drain. Trench Liners are relatively inexpensive and are not hard to install. If you are not sure what to do then install the Trench Liner in the French Drain.
Installation of a French Drain in Edmond Oklahoma
Drainage System
Drainage Systems can be made up of one drain or a combination of many drains. Drainage problems can be very complex. Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drains all inter-connected and working together. Other times the drainage problem may be simple and straight-forward requiring only one drain or several of the same type of drain connected together.
Curb Outlet as an Exit Point for a French Drain in Edmond
An example of a complex drainage system would be: A French Drain in the back yard connected to a Surface Drain near a flower bed connected to several gutter downspouts, which are connected to a Channel Drain going across a driveway, which is connected to additional Surface Drain in the front yard, which runs to a Curb Fitting that lets all the water drain out on to the street.
Popup Emitter to release water from a French Drain in Yukon
A simple Drainage System might consist of a Surface Drain that is connected to a second Surface Drain which runs to a Pop-up Emitter which lets water drain over the curb and into the street.
What We Do
Oklahoma Drainage Installs all types of Drainage Systems in Oklahoma.
Today we installed a 6 Inch French Drain at an apartment complex near Lake Heffner. The French Drain started in the back yard of one unit. The Drainpipe went under the fence and into the adjoining unit’s back yard. The French Drain then looped around their patio and out under their fence to the west.
To get the 6-inch Drainpipe to the correct Exit Point, we had to cut out 30 feet of sidewalk and run the French Drainpipe under the sidewalk. Next, we replaced the sidewalk with new concrete.
Drainage Ditch
Finally, we dug a drainage ditch across the front yard to the parking lot. We covered the Drainpipe with sod that we carefully removed when digging the trench. At the edge of the parking lot a 6-inch Pop-Up Emitter was installed to release the Storm water. Seven Gutters were connected directly into the Drainage System along the way.
Installing Gravel on top of a 6-inch French Drain
Dimensions
This particular Drainage System was made up of 55 Feet of 6-inch French Drain, 78 Feet of Solid ADS Solid Drainpipe, Seven Gutter Connections, and one 6-inch Pop-Up Emitter.
Sprinkler Repair Facts
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Expert Service for Sprinkler Heads, Valves, Controllers and all other Sprinkler System difficulties. We service Norman, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, Yukon, Mustang, and Midwest City.
Sprinkler Controller Repair is a service provided by Oklahoma Drainage. A Sprinkler Controller is the “Brain,” of a Sprinkler System. They can wear out or stop working. Power surges in the home can cause damage to a controller.
Programming can be difficult for homeowners. We can help with programming or replace a Sprinkler Module if it is defective.
Start Time Programming
“Start Time” programing many times is confusing for homeowners. The definition of a Start Time is a time that is chosen for the sprinkler system to start watering. It causes zone 1 to start running. When zone 1 is finished it automatically stops and zone 2 begins. When Zone 2 is complete it stops and zone 3 begins. Simple enough Right! This continues until the last zone programed available runs.
The confusion begins when people think that a time needs to be set to start zone 2 and 3 and so on. This is not the case. They follow zone 1 which has the only Start Time programmed into the controller.
Be Careful with Multiple Start Times, just use One at first.
Sprinkler Controllers have a feature providing multiple start times, up to 4 Start Times are usually available. These additional start times are only used when a person wants to run the entire system more than once in a 24-hour period.
For Example, the first Start Time is set at 9Am. Zone 1 begins to run at 9am. When Zone 1 is done, say 10 minutes later, Zone 2 begins and runs for 10 minutes, then zone 3 follows and so on. By 10 am let’s say all the zones have run. Let’s say 8 hours later you have a second start time at 6 Pm. Zone 1 comes on and runs and by 7pm all the zones have run again. So, the controller has 2 start times which have caused the Sprinkler System to run start to finish twice in a 24-hour period.
Big Problem
Here is the big problem! Some Homeowners believe the second start time is to start zone 2 running. They also think that the 3rd start time is to start zone 3 and the 4-start time is to run zone 4. No!!
So, this is how they program the controller. At 9am they have a start time and zone 1 starts. The homeowner programs a second start time at 9:10 am to mistakenly start zone 2. Nope! It starts zone 1 all over again. At 9:2o they have a 3rd start time for zone 3. Nope! It starts zone 1 for a third time. Now the controller is stuck in a loop and zone 1 runs constantly and won’t shut off.
If Sprinkler Controller Programming is confusing? Make sure you only have One Start Time!
“Run Time,” is completed Next. It determines how long each zone runs. Zone One 10 Minutes, Zone Two, 15 Minutes, Zone Three 8 Minutes. You can set how long you want each zone to run.
French Drain Repair and Installation is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We installed our first French Drain and completed our first Sprinkler Repair in Norman in 1993.
We started with the Valves
The Sprinkler Valves were located in the back yard near the pool. Six valves were located in one place. They were very tightly connected in one Manifold. None of the Sprinkler Valves had worked in a long time. They were Toro Valves that were over 20 years old. They all had to be replaced.
Surprisingly there was no shut-off valve for the Sprinkler Water. The water had to be shut off at the Meter so we could install a Manual Shut off valve. Once installed, the water was turned back on that ran to the house. The water that ran to the Sprinkler System was shut off with our New Shut Off Valve.
Rainbird Sprinkler Valve
The Sprinkler Valves Were Removed
Now, the 6 valves had to replaced. The valves that were used were made by Rain Bird. Before we began, I had to talk to the Customer. The previous valve design was a bad idea to repeat.
The original Sprinkler Valves were crammed into one large valve box in one very tight manifold. This is bad because the valves were too close to the fittings. Simply put, if one valve had to be replaced or worked on in the future, all 6 valves had to be taken out and replaced. If one valve was bad and 5 worked fine, they all still had to be replaced.
That’s Stupid!
I recommended that an additional Valve Box be installed putting 3 valves in each Valve Box. This would allow plenty of space between the valve fittings. If one Sprinkler Valve had to be adjusted or replaced in the future, the other 5 valves need not be disturbed. Simple Enough!
Check For Leaks
Once the valves were replaced and working, it was time to turn on each Sprinkler Zone, one at a time. Water was shooting up from the ground in several places in zone 1. Two broken Sprinkler Pipes and 5 bad Sprinkler Heads in zone 1 had to be fixed and replaced. We went through each of the 6 zones in similar fashion fixing lots of leaks and replacing bad sprinkler heads.
The Sprinkler Repair Cost About Half of the Cost of Completely New System.
Rotor and Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler Repair Service Provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair
Since 1993 we have Replaced Sprinkler Valves that were sticking or were wore out.
Thousands of Sprinkler Heads have been adjusted.
Countless Sprinkler Controllers have been Reprogramed or Replaced.
Sprinkler Head Adjustment is a service provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair. We have adjusted sprinkler heads since 1993.
Many times, Sprinkler heads get, “Out of Wack.” Lawn mowers and weed eaters are notorious for this. Sprinkler heads start spraying water in the wrong place. It is frustrating to water concrete while plants and grass go without moisture.
Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads
Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads can be adjusted several ways. How far water goes to the left or right can be increased or decreased. The distance the water goes can also be increased or decreased. Finally, how high a sprinkler head pops up can be increased or decreased by installing a taller or shorter head.
Sometimes sprinkler heads spray a reduced distance and don’t perform very well due to water scale. Minerals in the water can completely clog a Pop-Up. Usually, the sprinkler nozzle on top of the sprinkler head, need only be replaced without replacing the entire head.
Rotor Sprinkler Heads also can be adjusted to the left or right. Spray Distance can be increased or decreased as well.
Needs Change
What’s going on in your yard can change. This calls for Sprinkler Head Adjustment. Adding or removing a swimming pool changes everything concerning sprinkler heads. Any number of things can change the necessary sprinkler head coverage.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.
Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes – Sprinkler Head Adjustment – Sprinkler Valve Replacement
We provide Service for Folks in: Norman, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Moore.
Central and Western Oklahoma is our Service Area since 1993.
(405) 203-9419
Check out Sprinkler System Check-Up
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