French Drain Situations
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 homes 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 under ground (through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution for draining away water flowing under ground.
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 horse shoe. 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 Drain Pipe 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 Drain Pipe 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 drain pipe 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 drain pipe 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 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.
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
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.
Central and Western Oklahoma is our Service Area since 1993.
(405) 203-9419
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. If you live in Mustang or Yukon and would like to protect your trees or flower beds from standing water with a French Drain, we specializes in just that!