Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 405 203 9419

 Norman French Drain, Installed by Oklahoma Drainage – 405 203 9419

Recently Oklahoma Drainage installed a 6-inch French Drain for a customer in East Norman.  She had water coming down the hill in her back yard, on to her patio, and into her back door.  Also there was water standing on the side of her house.  Water was standing near the AC unit.  Water was standing by the South side garage door too.

We installed a 6-inch French Drain all the way around the house with 2 curb outlets, One on the North Side of the driveway, and one on the South.

What is a French Drain?

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French Drains can be made to look really good.

 

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We also connected 4 Gutter Down Spouts directly into the French Drain which made the Drainage System more efficient and caused suction in the French drain improving performance and preventing Vapor Lock during Flooding Situations.

This Design Solved all their water problems and was tested with a heavy rain the day after work was completed.

What Size French Drainpipe is Available

When installing a Drainage System of any type, a decision must be made on the size of Drainpipe used.  Typically, 6-inch, 4 inch, and 3 inch are the most common in Residential Drainage Systems.

 

If you have one or two 6 inch Surface Drains or a stretch of French Drain that is less than 10 feet, then a 3 inch drainpipe can be used.   Three inch drain pipe is used for low volume applications.

If you have two or three 12-inch Surface Drains or a stretch of French Drain that is 60 feet or less, then 4 inch drainpipe should do the job.

 

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If you have Six 12 inch Surface Drains or less or 100 Feet of French Drain, Then the use of 6-inch drainpipe becomes necessary.

Oklahoma Drainage –  We install French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Sump Pumps and Sod.

If You live in Oklahoma City and water damaging your foundation, We can install a French Drain for you.

Or, if you live in Norman and have water standing on your driveway, consider a Channel Drain Installation. If you live in Edmond and have water flooding your basement, a Sump Pump can help.

Or, you live in Moore and have water washing out your flower bed mulch, We can install a Surface Drain for you.

If you live in Yukon and need grass to grow, we can install Sod too!

Do you have water standing in your yard after a heavy rain?  Do your gutters turn your sidewalk into a moat after a storm.  Worst of all, do you have water seeping into your home or business from Storm-Water runoff?

 

Oklahoma Drainage can help with these and many other “standing water” and ” Drainage Problems. We can diagnose your drainage problem and design a drainage system to fit your specific needs.  In Business since 1993.  

We utilize: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Basin Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, and Sump Pumps.

 

We service all of Central and Western Oklahoma

 

 

Drainage Limitations

It’s simple, the larger the drain pipe the more types and sizes of drains you can connect to the system.

If you connect too many Surface drains or French drains to a Drainage System, it can EASIALY become overwhelmed during a hard rain.

Connecting a gutter downspout

to a drain that only has a small slope is always a good idea.  The water on the roof has nice velocity when it comes out the gutter and into the drain pipe.  It speeds up the water movement when the slope isn’t very good.  It also causes suction behind the gutter downspout in the French Drain or Surface Drain that you have installed.

Before you ever build a Drainage System, you need to decide where you are going to take the problem water too.   Most residential Drainage Systems release water farther on down the hill or release it out into the street.  Street release is either over the curb or through the curb.

It is a good idea to do a little research on the effects and liabilities of releasing water at your home.  What does the city think if you release water through the curb vs over the curb?  What does your downhill neighbor think if you are releasing water into his yard?

Some Drainage System Locations have many options for ” Exits.”  Others have very few.

Don’t Start a Drainage System if you don’t have a good place for the water to exit!

This is even more important, if your Drainage System needs to be a “Flood Prevention System.”  We talked about this in the previous blogs on Drainage.

A Flood Prevention System may need more than one exit to increase the Drainage Systems Capacity.

OK, So you have a good Water Exit Strategy and have identified where the water is going to go.

Let’s go back and talk about Pop Up Emitters and Curb Outlets.

A Pop Up emitter is used to release water down a hill or over a curb and into the street.

 

 

Water hits the Emitter and fills it until the water pressure lifts the lid and the water drains out.

Good “Fall” or ” Slope“

is necessary for a pop up emitter to work properly.  Many times, a Drainage Pipe does not run downhill enough for a Drainage System to work well. You need “Slope” for your drain to work.   Water may move very slowly and never lift the lid and it just sits there.

We will talk about having the correct amount of “Fall” or “Slope” in a Drainage System in the next blog.

Curb fittings or outlets is the other way to release water.

Installing a curb outlet is not for the inexperienced person.

First off,  For your average DIY Guy.  Installing a Curb outlet may be beyond your skill set or capacity.  If that is the case just place a Pop-Up Emitter up against the curb and go on about your business.

That being said, you may still want or need a Curb Outlet set in concrete.

If you are good with concrete and a concrete saw, this option poses no problem.  If this option seems too much for you, it probably is!  Consider sub-contracting the curb outlet.  In higher populated areas, finding someone to do “Light” concrete work is relatively easy.  You still can save money by installing the rest of the Drainage System yourself.

If you are still going to install the “Curb Outlet,” here are the steps for a “First Timer.”

Installing a Curb fitting Yourself Isn’t Easy

In 34 years of service, Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed over 2000 curb outlets.

If you are comfortable with your Skills using a Concrete Saw and working with a small amount of concrete, you can install your own curb fitting.

Step 1 Find a Curb outlet fitting.  They are round on one side where the drainpipe connects and rectangular on the other to fit in the cut-out area for the Curb outlet.

They are sold in many Drainage Supply Businesses.  You may not find them at “Lowes” or ” Home Depot”.  It varies.  If a Specialized Drain Supply business is not available then use a “Heat and Air” Floor vent as your curb outlet.  They are made of metal in most cases but still will work very well.  I have done this many times.  The floor vent is typically wider and thinner than a standard Curb Outlet Fitting.  Just cut a wider hole in the curb.

Step 2 Watch an instructional safety video on using a concrete saw.

Step 3 Rent or buy a concrete saw.  A used one can be found in pawn shops for about 300$ to 600$.  A New one will run around a Thousand Dollars.

a Rental will run about 50$ to 150$ depending on your area.

 

Find a Curb Outlet Fitting

Step 4 Find a Curb outlet that matches the size of your Pipe.  If you have a 4 inch Drain pipe then install a 4 inch curb outlet.   Sometimes a Six inch Curb outlet is too big to install in many roadside curbs.  It is too tall in many cases.  In most situations if you want a curb outlet and have a Six inch Drain Pipe, you must install two 4 inch outlets side by side.

If you have the need for a six inch Drainpipe, that means you have a lot of water to move.  You don’t want to create a bottle neck at the curb by installing a 4 inch curb fitting as your exit on a Six-Inch Drainpipe.

What you need to do is dig a large hole at the curb so you have room to work.  Next you attach a 6 inch “Y” fitting onto your drain pipe above the curb several feet.  You then install Two Reducer Bushings in both outlets of the “Y” fitting.  Next you attach 4 Inch ADS Drainpipe to the outlets and run two 4 inch ADS Drainpipes to the Curb.  Now you install two 4 inch curb fittings side by side.

It is very important

to use ADS Pipe coming out of the 6 Inch “Y” fitting.  It is Flexible and can be easily bent to fit your application.   PVC Pipe is rigid and won’t bend.  Very few people can do this process using PVC.  In 33 Years of installing Drains, I have only done it 3 times using PVC.  It is very Difficult and Frustrating.

Step 5 Watch a Video on Light Concrete Work if available.

Step 6 Connect the curb fitting to the drainpipe and install cement around it.  I have had the most success using a ” Quick Set” concrete that comes in a small bucket and has an “Acrylic” Additive or Base.

I don’t recommend cutting the curb yourself and installing a curb outlet if you are only going to do this once in your life.  If you are or will become a drainage contractor, then this is a skill that you definitely need.

 

 

Oklahoma Drainage also installs Channel Drains set in concrete.  A high level of experience is required to do this correctly.

It is beyond the ability of most “landscaping companies, Weekend Warriors, and Brother-in-laws.”

 

 

FRENCH DRAIN, DRAINAGE SYSTEM, OKLAHOMA CITY, EDMOND, NORMAN, YUKON and all of Central and Western Oklahoma

Oklahoma Drainage — 405 203 9419

French Drains can be installed by themselves, or as part of a Drainage System that uses other French Drains, Surface Drains, or other Drain combinations.  Typically, a French Drain is used to protect a broad area that has a lot of standing water.

A French Drain

might run alongside a home’s foundation, or beside a driveway, or on any Drainage Project where Sub-Surface water is the primary problem.  If water is running toward your home underground (through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution for draining away water flowing underground.

After Diagnosing a Drainage Problem in Oklahoma City, we installed a 6-inch French Drain that went all the way around the pool in the back yard and then ran all the way to the street on both sides of the house. The French Drain made the shape of a horseshoe. The Drainage System had two Curb Outlets installed through the curb at the street. This gave the French Drain two different directions to allow the water to flow to the street.

Two Drain Outlets

allowed the French Drain to move a huge amount of water during heavy rains.   A few weeks later we got a call from our customer after a heavy rain.  She was very happy.  The French Drain did a great job protecting her pool.  All the Storm Water was diverted around the Swimming Pool.

French Drain installation is a big focus for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair.   A French Drain is one part of a Drainage System.  A French Drain can be connected to other types of Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts and then run through Drainpipe to an Exit point where the water is released.

A Drainage Exit Point

is the area where water goes to be released when it comes out of the Drainage System. The two most common exit points for a Drainage System are a Pop-Up Emitter or a Curb Fitting.
A Pop-Up Emitter is a Fitting on the end of a Drainpipe that has a lid that pops up and releases water. When water drainage is complete, the lid shuts back.

We Installed a Double Six-inch French Drain in Edmond this week.  A Double Six-Inch French Drain is two six-inch French Drains laid side by side in one very wide and deep trench.  It is designed to move a huge amount of water away from a home.   The our customer had several different drainage problems in their back yard.

After a thunderstorm,

water would run under their back fence and into their garage.  The back yard was on a steep hillside, and the water would run very fast down the hill and into the garage.  We installed 2 large six-inch French Drains across the water’s path.  This allowed the water to be diverted into the French Drain which then ran through drainpipe to a curb outlet at the street.

Three Gutter Down Spouts

were connected into the French Drain.

The French Drain created a protective barrier for the garage.  A 12 inch Surface Drain was also included in the Drainage System.  It was placed up against the driveway and connected with 4 inch Solid drainpipe to the 6-inch French Drain.

Water was completely rerouted away from the home.  A French Drain and Surface Drain combination in this case was the best solution to this particular drainage problem.

Installing a Curb Outlet for a French Drain in Edmond

Sprinkler Repair Facts

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provide 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.

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.

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.

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

 

If you live in Oklahoma City and need a French Drain installed in your yard, or along your driveway, or near your foundation, give us a call.  If you live in Edmond or Norman and need a Surface Drain installed in the concrete in your sidewalk or driveway, we can help.   Mustang or Yukon Residents who would like to protect Their trees or flower beds from standing water need a French Drain.  We specialize in just that!

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.

We also have fixed a broken Sprinkler Pipe or Two.  Seems like a million.  Ok, not that many.

I wonder how many?  A lot!!!!

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provide Service for all of Central Oklahoma Including:  Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Mustang.