A NEW FRENCH DRAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY
Recently we installed a large Drainage System in OKC. It was a 4 inch System using 4 inch ADS French Drainpipe with Soc and 4 inch ADS Solid Drainpipe. The “Intake” of the Drainage System had two parts. Water from the gutters on the house was fed into the Drainage System. There were 7 gutter downspouts around the entire house that were connected straight into the Drainage System with Solid Drainpipe and a Gutter connection.
French Drain Installation in Yukon
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair: Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.
Standing Water on Your Driveway? A Surface Drain set in concrete may be what you need. Or maybe you need a French Drain Running alongside your driveway instead. Handling water problems is what we are good at. If you need help, Oklahoma Drainage can provide the best solution for your unwanted water problems.
We just finished a 4-inch Drainage System in Yukon. It was a complicated system to install. It utilized 4 inch French Drain in the flower beds, 12 inch Surface Drains on the side of the house, 6 inch French Drain along the garage foundation with 2 Pop – Up Emitters in the back yard and 3 Curb Fittings in the front.
First we installed 4 inch French Drain
in the flowerbeds on both sides of the front door. We connected 4 inch solid Drainpipe into the French Drain and ran them underside walk to the curb. Next we cut the curb with a concrete saw and installed 3 curb outlets for 3 separate French Drains.
Next, we installed 4 12 Inch Drain Basins with grates along both sides of the house continuing with Solid Drain Pipe to the Pop-Up Emitters on the back fence.
Finally, we completed the Drainage System by installing a long run of 6 inch French Drain down the side of the garage foundation. Installing the French Drains in the flower beds was the most difficult and took the most time.
Each French Drain took over a ton of crushed limestone to fill the French Drain trench. The Six-inch French Drain took even more limestone.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair –
Hey Oklahoma, we are expanding to service all of Western Oklahoma as well as Central Oklahoma. If you live in Elk City, and need a French Drain, we can help. If water is standing on your driveway in Clinton, Give us a call. Duncan, Lawton, and Altus are all new areas of service for us.
Since 1993 Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has solved all types of standing water and drainage issues. We install Drainage Systems that utilize:
French Drains, Surface, Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps depending on the customer’s needs.
If you have water in the wrong place, we can help!
We also have Decades of experience repairing all types of Lawn Sprinkler Problems. Fixing broken sprinkler heads, sprinkler valve problems and controller trouble just to name a few things.
Many times, people use the term ” French Drain” as general name for a Drain used in or around your home. French Drains are designed to move a lot of water over a large flooded area. They are also designed to take water in on the surface of the ground or below the surface of the ground.
This is very important if the water coming into the flooded area is moving through the ground or coming up from underneath. ” Sub Surface Water Movement.” The picture below is not a French Drain!
A French Drain looks like this
A French Drain can take in water in a broad area. It can move a much larger volume of water compared to a Surface Drain. Also, it can move sub surface water moving into the area where a Surface Drain won’t move any water at all.
Surface Drains are designed to move surface water only on a smaller scale in confined areas.
Each solves specific drainage problems. A Drainage System may use one or both together or even several using many types of drains.
Do you have standing water in a large area in your yard?
Typically this calls for a French Drain. A French Drain is a great way to control standing water in a large grassy area. It can also protect areas from flooding to a certain degree. As long as the French Drains capacity to move water is not exceeded. If the French Drains capacity is exceeded then water will stand in the drainage area until the rain stops and the drain has time to catch up. A good way to prevent this is to install a bigger French Drain with a larger pipe. The difference between a 3 inch French Drain and a 6 inch French Drain is huge.
Another way to beef up a French Drain is to connect gutter down spouts in front of the French Drain. The water coming off the roof causes suction in the French Drain Behind it. This greatly increases the French Drains ability to move water without increasing the size of the French Drain Pipe.
Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.
If you have water standing in your flowerbed we can install a French Drain For you. If water is standing on your driveway or sidewalk a Surface Drain or Channel Drain set in concrete might be what you need. If water is standing in your basement a Sump Pump installation is a good idea.
Drainpipe for French Drain running under sidewalk
Double Six-Inch French Drain
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. 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.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 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
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Oklahoma Drainage
installed a 4-inch French Drain in East Norman this week. The customer had water standing on the side of his house that was causing foundation damage. He contracted a Structural Engineer to come out and look at the Drainage Problem and to give him some advise.
The Structural Engineer recommended a French Drain to protect and draw water away from the foundation. He said that, “he had recommended French Drain Installation to solve similar problems for home owners many times in the past. The Structural Engineer was confident that it would solve the Drainage Problem.
Recently Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair installed a large 6 inch French Drain in Edmond. The customer had water running under his back porch step and into his basement. We did a Free Drainage Diagnostic and Estimate.
that we proposed would intercept the surface water and subsurface water that was flowing under the steps. The French Drain design called for a 6 inch French Drain to be installed above and several feet away from the steps. It would run around the house parallel to the foundation and about 5 feet to the East.
The French Drain would run past the steps to a point where water must cross the French Drain or run up hill to the steps which in this case was not possible.
Once past the steps, the French Drain would transition to Solid 6 inch Drainpipe and continue on around the house to the Pop-Up Emitter downhill in the side yard. Along the way we attached several Gutter Down Spouts into the French Drain.
Hard rain
and flooding seem to be more common all the time. When I started this business in 1993, having over an inch of rainfall in an hour was pretty extreme. Now having over 4 inch an hour rainfall is not unheard of and is becoming more common.
Protecting our homes and businesses from unwanted water should be a goal for all of us.
Oklahoma Drainage has seen and dealt with virtually every possible Drainage and Standing water problem that can occur in or around your home. With over 2000 Drainage Systems installed since 1993, we have amassed a great deal of experience. This is help full in seeing underlying problems and secondary issues that may be hard to see at first for the ” Untrained Eye.” This allows us to get things right the first time.
In this business EXPERIENCE TRULY COUNTS!
Hiring your brother-in-law to put in your Drainage System or French Drain is as bad as hiring a Lawn mowing company that does landscaping and drains too? Water can cause a huge amount of damage. How important is your money and your home?
Is this your yard?
Running French Drainpipe Under Sidewalk
Online Search
Next, our customer went online and found us by searching under, ” Norman Oklahoma French Drain.”
The Gentleman gave us a call to set up an appointment. We arrived on the agreed time and provided a ( Free- No Obligation- Drainage Diagnostic and Quote) We came out and looked at his Drainage Problem and designed a Drainage System to solve his, Standing-Water Problem.” We also recommended a surface drain in a corner where water was coming off a steep part of the roof and overwhelming the gutter.
Moving Foreword
The customer let us know that he was ready to move forward. We scheduled the Drainage System Installation for the following week. When the scheduled day arrived, we installed the Drainage System. The Drain was made up of a 6-inch French Drain running 30 feet along the East side of the house.
It curved
around the corner of the house. At that point a 12 inch Surface Drain was connected to the French Drain with 4-inch pipe. The 6-inch French Drain at that point changed to 6-inch Solid Drainpipe and continued underground 65 feet to a pop-up emitter at the curb in the front yard near the street.
Edmond Oklahoma has been the location for many French Drain Installations for us in the past several years. Recently we ripped out an old Surface Drain that was under a deck. The Surface Drain was too small for the job and did not Protect the Foundation from Standing Water.
The First step
was to take out part of the deck along the wall. Next we took out the Surface Drain and the Three Inch Pipe which was too small. Digging a trench along the foundation came next. We had to ensure the, “Fall” to make sure the water would run from left to right.
Next a French Drain Liner needed to be installed. This was necessary to maintain the integrity of the trench and to keep the French Drainpipe from filling up with sand and getting clogged over the next few years. Oklahoma Drainage then installed 4-inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe along the course of the French Drain.
Next
we connected the end of the French Drainpipe to Solid 4 Inch ADS Drain pipe to continue along the trench to the Pop-Up Emitter at the Exit Point.
Running Drainpipe to the Curb from French Drain in Back Yard
French Drain in Oklahoma City
The French Drain we installed ran across the back yard in two places, then it connected to solid ADS Drainpipe and Ran to the street where a Curb Outlet was installed.
Installing a curb outlet takes experience and skill. We cut the curb with a concrete saw. Water is used with the saw to make better cuts and to keep the concrete dust to a minimum. The cut in the curb will be at least two inches wider than the curb outlet that will be set in concrete. This ensures strength and longevity.
When installing the cement,
we use cement with Acrylic to further ensure the strength of the outlet. It takes a while for the concrete to cure. The new concrete will be darker than the surrounding curb for a while but eventually it will match up.
We cut the sod out by hand when installing Solid Drainpipe. The sod is set to the side while the 4 inch pipe is installed. Then some of the dirt is placed back on top of the drain pipe and the sod is placed back in its original position. Some of the dirt is left over that is displaced by the new drain pipe. That dirt is hauled away.
Recently
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Installed a French Drain as part of a Drainage System in Mid West City Oklahoma.
Our customer had a back porch Sunroom. Every time he had a hard rain, Water would run in one door and out the other. An indoor creek across his Sunroom.
We installed
a French Drain in front of the South Door. It was 26 feet long and ran from a gutter downspout which it was connected to, in front of the South Door and along the house covering the entire “Low” Area. Then we connected 4-inch ADS Solid Drainpipe to the French Drain and ran down hill around the corner of the house to the street.
Once the 4 inch solid drainpipe was connected to the French Drain and the two gutter down spouts, a pop-up emitter was installed to release the water at the street.
The next step was to cover the drain pipe with dirt and put the sod back in place on top of the pipe. There was about 8 wheelbarrows of dirt left over that was displaced by the drainpipe and the French Drain. The extra dirt was scooped up and hauled away.
While installing the drainage system,
it was necessary to move two sprinkler heads that were in the way of the drain pipe installation. This was no problem. Installing drainage systems and French drains for folks who have a sprinkler system is very common.
Moving Sprinkler heads or pipes sometimes is necessary. We always leave the sprinkler system in complete working order and we discuss any changes in the sprinkler system with the customer before we do it to make sure that everyone is on the same page. In most cases the customer can’t tell that we made any changes to the sprinkler system at all.
French Drain Installation
can be a big part of installing a Drainage System. A French Drain is not the only type of Drain that can be used. A Drainage System can utilize several types of drains including a French Drain, Surface Drain, or Channel Drain.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain.
A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a trench.
A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil.
The Drainpipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drainpipe does not become clogged.
A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drainpipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drainpipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drainpipe.
The dirt that is taken out to make the trench is hauled away. It is replaced by some type of small stone or gravel depending on what is desired or available. I prefer crushed 1 inch lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area.
Pea Gravel
or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drainpipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level).
In some cases where the French Drain needs to be deep or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforated Drainpipe or the Gravel are installed. This helps maintain the integrity of the trench over time. It also increases the cost of the French Drain and the amount of time to install it. I install a trench liner in a French Drain Every time.
What a French Drain Can Handle
A
French Drain is designed to handle a large volume of water and cover a large area. The Drain is anyplace the trench goes. It has many applications and can be used in many situations. It can be installed by itself or incorporated into a
Drainage System with
Surface Drains or
Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.
The main downfall of a French Drain is that they, for the most part aren’t very pretty. They don’t look very nice in a yard once they are completed.
Depending on the area the
French Drain is installed and the type of grass around the
French Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the limestone.
Grass
can grow up and through the gravel in the
French Drain over time eventually covering the gravel. This is OK. It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of the
French Drain.
In some cases, thick grass growing up through the French Drain will create a natural “Thatch” filter. This makes the French Drain invisible. The trick is to allow the grass to grow over the French Drain Gravel without covering it up with dirt. Grasses such as Bermuda which grow well in the sun will put out runners and new roots and will grow up and through the French Drain.
Performance
This will not affect the performance of the French Drain. The problem is that sometimes depending on the type of soil involved, it may take a long time to completely cover up the French Drain. Sprinkling grass seed down in the gravel will speed up the process.
DON’T COVER THE GRAVEL IN THE FRENCH DRAIN WITH DIRT!
THE
FRENCH DRAIN WON’T WORK IF THE TRENCH IS CLOGGED WITH DIRT. DON’T EVEN INSTALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COVER IT UP WITH DIRT.
If you install a French Drain in a sunny area, you can:
A. Leave the French Drain as-is and allow grass to grow over it in time.
B. Add grass seed directly to the French Drain gravel with (Light Hand Watering) to speed the growth process
C. Leave the
French Drain as-is but decorate it with steppingstones and landscaping rocks ( leaving large cracks between stones to allow water to get into the
French Drain,
2
A. Leave the French Drain as-is, it will work well and look as it did for many years.
B. Leave the French Drain as-is, but decorate it with steppingstones or landscaping rocks. Many French Drains are hidden under rock walkways.
French Drain with steppingstones
Sprinkler System Checkup Norman.
Lots of things can be done to make sure your Sprinkler System is ready to go. All the Sprinkler Zones should be checked one by one. The sprinkler heads and valves need to be checked to see if anything needs to be adjusted or replaced.
Sprinkler System Checkup is a Service Provided by Oklahoma Drainage since 1993.
Today we did a sprinkler repair in Norman. The sprinkler system needed a checkup.
We went through each sprinkler zone and identified several different problems.
Zone 2 had a cracked sprinkler pipe in a flower bed.
A broken Rotor Sprinkler head was found immediately.
Next, zone five look good with no problems.
Zone 6 and 7 each had a couple of pop-up spray heads that were worn out and would not pop-up. The diagnosis and the repair took less than two hours. Now their sprinkler system is running great!
Now is a good time to have a Sprinkler System Checkup provided by Oklahoma Drainage.
Sprinkler Systems need to be checked before winter to prevent pipes from freezing. Sprinkler Design determines whether sprinkler lines need to be bled. Emergency shut off valves also need to be checked and turned off for the winter.
In the Spring,
all the water needs to be turned back on and all sprinkler zones and heads need to be tested.
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.
Sprinkler Valves
Sprinkler Valve Replacement is a service that Oklahoma Drainage has provided Since 1993. Recently we removed 3 Rainbird Sprinkler Valves and replaced them with new ones. The valves had been crushed accidentally when a landscaper drove his truck across the yard.
Sprinkler System Check-Up in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore.
Sprinkler System Check-Up process is very straightforward. We run through all the Sprinkler Zones one-at-a- time from the controller.
Sprinkler Controller
Sprinkler controllers can be a problem source. Many times, the wires in the controller are loose or have a “Short” in one of the wires. Sprinkler Programming can be a source of frustration. We can help with Programming your controller.
We check all the sprinkler heads in that zone and the valves as well.
Once the Sprinkler System Checkup is Complete, we provide a Quote for what it will cost to make the needed repairs.
Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993. 405 203 9419
Sprinkler Valve Replacement is a service that Oklahoma Drainage has provided Since 1993. Recently we removed 3 Rainbird Sprinkler Valves and replaced them with new ones. The valves had been crushed accidentally when a landscaper drove his truck across the yard.
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.
First Step
First, we dug up a good working area surrounding the broken Sprinkler Valves. Next, we cut out the broken valves and crushed PVC pipes. Finally, PVC pipe was cut and glued with new Sprinkler Valves following the original design and configuration. In this case the three original sprinkler valves were connected to each other inside one Valve Box.
We aren’t done yet though; two sprinkler wires must be connected to each Valve. One sprinkler wire is the “Common Ground.” The other wire is the power wire. All the sprinkler wiring is connected with water-proof wire connections.
The Common Ground
wire and the Individual Power Wires all come from the Sprinkler Controller. Each Sprinkler Valve has its own power wire coming from the Controller. All the Sprinkler Valves are Connected to the Same Common Ground Wire.
Oklahoma City Sprinkler Repair
Before We Finish
Before dirt can be put back around the new valves, testing must be done. Each valve must be turned on, “one-at-a-time,” at the Controller to ensure good wire connection and functionality. Also, the Sprinkler Valves must be checked for leaks in the PVC Pipe.
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.
Blanchard Sprinkler Repair has been provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair since 1993.
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.
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.
