Archive for the ‘Parts of a French Drain’ Category

Parts of a French Drain

Parts of a French Drain are

Drainage Trench,

Transition Trench

 Trench Liner,

 Pipe Filter

Perforated Drainpipe,

Solid Drainpipe

Gravel or Crushed Limestone,

Transition Drainpipe

Drainage Exit.

This Blog can also be very Helpful! Click on the Link below!

What is a French Drain?

Drainage Trench

A Drainage Trench is where a French Drainpipe is located.  The Perforated Drainpipe is placed in the bottom of the Drainage Trench On top of the Trench Liner.   It needs to be in a low area where the water is standing or flowing toward. This is called the “Intake,” Part of a Drainage System.  A French Drain takes in water.

Transition Trench

A Transition Trench is the location of the Transition Pipe.   It is connected to the French Drainpipe.  It takes the drain water to the dedicated exit.

 Trench Liner

Installing 4 Inch French Drain with trench Liner and pipe filter

The White Material is the Trench Liner. The black material is the Pipe Filter.

A liner is placed in the bottom of the Drainage Trench.  This liner allows water to enter the French Drain from the dirt surrounding the French Drain.  Underground water, AKA “Sub-Surface Water, “can be drained away.

French Drain Near Driveway

French Drain Protecting Driveway

 Drainpipe

French Drainpipe is perforated.  It is full of thousands of little holes.  The holes allow water to enter the French Drainpipe.  This can be Surface Water or Sub-Surface water.  A cloth filter is wrapped around the pipe.

Perforated French Drainpipe with Soc

Perforated French Drainpipe with Soc

Gravel or Crushed Limestone

Gravel or Crushed limestone is used to fill the French Drain Trench once the Perforated Pipe is installed.

French Drain Trench

French Drain Trench

Transition Trench and Transition Drainpipe

A Transition Trench is the location of the Transition Pipe.   It is connected to the French Drainpipe.  It takes the drain water to the dedicated exit.

ADS Drain Pip Running Out Through The Curb

Drainpipe Installation Running Out Through the Curb

A Transition Drainpipe is a Solid Pipe that is connected to the Downhill end of the French Drain.  It takes water away from the French Drain.

Don’t Put Gravel around the Solid Transition Drainpipe.

Dirt is filled back in on top of the Transition Pipe.  The Left-over dirt is hauled away or used in an area where the homeowner might need some extra dirt.

Drainage Exit

A Drainage Exit is a release point.  This is where water leaves the Solid Transition Drainpipe.

Pop up emitters

Pop up emitters for French Drain

Pop-Up Emitters are one potential exit for a Drainage System.

A Curb Outlet can also be used as an exit.

Curb Outlet for french drain

Curb Outlet for French Drain

WHERE WE HAVE WORKED!

In 1993 we had no website.  I stuck little signs on the side of the road as advertisement.  I got my first Drain Installation work in March of 1993 in Norman.  It was in Brookhaven North of Robinson Street on the West side of I 35.

Over the years Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed all types of Drainage Systems in almost Every town in Central and Western Oklahoma.

The majority of our customers live in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, New Castle, Yukon and Choctaw.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair hasn’t been limited to those areas, however.  We have also installed French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps in many other cities.

Working Drainage Systems Installed by Oklahoma Drainage also reside in: Lawton, Duncan, Ardmore, Chickasha, Shawnee, Enid, Weatherford, Elk City, El reno and many other places.

If you live in any of these Cities or towns, we have installed a French Drain, Surface Drain, Channel Drain, or Sump Pump within 5 miles of your home.

Here is a description of other recent work.

A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Drainage installed a 6-inch French Drain between two businesses which were less than three feet apart.  The French Drain went between a Law Firm and a Tire shop.  Water was leaking through the walls of both businesses.  Gutters between the two establishments were dumping a huge amount of water.  We installed a 6-inch French Drain between the gutters.

It took a long time to get the dirt out of the trench for the French Drain.  It was a very tight fit.  We had to use a little red wagon to haul out the dirt for the French Drain and haul back in the crushed limestone for the French Drain.  It looked a little silly, but it was the only thing we could find that was narrow enough to fit between the buildings.  A French Drain that normally would take 1 day to install took three.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French DrainsSurface DrainsChannel DrainsSump Pumps.

Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes Sprinkler Head AdjustmentSprinkler 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

French Drains can utilize several types and sizes of French Drainpipe.  An older type that is not commonly used any more is 4-inch PVC Pipe with large half inch holes drilled in the Pipe.  This doesn’t work very well, Because the holes are too large and the number of holes in the French Drainpipe are too few.  Also, there is no filter or “Soc” around this particular French Drainpipe.  If it is used in sandy or loose soil the holes will clog and the pipe will fill up with sand.  PVC French Drainpipe should be avoided.

ADS French Drainpipe is much better, the holes are smaller and much more numerous.  It also comes inside a soc that acts as a filter and helps keep sand and debris out of the French Drainpipe.  It works very well.

For Small business and Residential French Drains, four-inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe is adequate and the most common.  It is used for the majority of all Drainage Systems.

French Drains can be installed using 3-inch ADS Perf/Soc but many times it is too small and can be overwhelmed by a heavy rain or from a bad design.  (Too many gutters down spouts connected directly into the French Drain, For Example) Three Inch French Drainpipe should be avoided if possible.

6 Inch Pipe

Six-inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe is usually a good idea when possible.  It carries a much larger volume of water.  Six Inch pipes are rarely overwhelmed.

French Drain Parts

French Drain Parts are a Drainage Trench, French Drain Trench Liner, French Drainpipe, Gravel or Crushed Limestone, Transition Drainpipe and Drainage Exit.

Drainage Trench

A Drainage Trench is where a French Drainpipe is located.  The Drainpipe is placed in the bottom of the Drainage Trench.   It needs to be in a low area where the water is standing or flowing toward.

French Drain Trench Liner

Installing 4 Inch French Drain with trench Liner and pipe filter

The White Material is the Trench Liner. The black material is the Pipe Filter.

A liner is placed in the bottom of the Drainage Trench.  This liner allows water to enter the French Drain from the dirt surrounding the French Drain.  Underground water, AKA “Sub-Surface Water, “can be drained away.

French Drainpipe

French Drainpipe is perforated.  It is full of thousands of little holes.  The holes allow water to enter the French Drainpipe.  This can be Surface Water or Sub-Surface water.  A cloth filter is wrapped around the pipe.

Gravel or Crushed Limestone

Gravel or Crushed limestone is used to fill the French Drain Trench once the Perforated Pipe is installed.

Transition Drainpipe

A Transition Drainpipe is a Solid Pipe that is connected to the Downhill end of the French Drain.  It takes water away from the French Drain.

Drainage Exit

A Drainage Exit is a release point.  This is where water leaves the Solid Transition Drainpipe.

 

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.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French DrainsSurface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.

Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes Sprinkler Head AdjustmentSprinkler 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

French Drains can utilize several types and sizes of French Drainpipe.  An older type that is not commonly used any more is 4-inch PVC Pipe with large half inch holes drilled in the Pipe.  This doesn’t work very well, Because the holes are too large and the number of holes in the French Drainpipe are too few.  Also, there is no filter or “Soc” around this particular French Drainpipe.  If it is used in sandy or loose soil the holes will clog and the pipe will fill up with sand.  PVC French Drain Pipe should be avoided.

ADS French Drainpipe is much better, the holes are smaller and much more numerous.  It also comes inside a soc that acts as a filter and helps keep sand and debris out of the French Drainpipe.  It works very well.

For Small business and Residential French Drains, four-inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe is adequate and the most common.  It is used for the majority of all Drainage Systems.

French Drains can be installed using 3-inch ADS Perf/Soc but many times it is too small and can be overwhelmed by a heavy rain or from a bad design.  (Too many gutters down spouts connected directly into the French Drain, For Example) Three Inch French Drainpipe should be avoided if possible.

6 Inch PIpe

Six-inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe is usually a good idea when possible.  It carries a much larger volume of water.  Six Inch pipes are rarely overwhelmed.

Installing Gravel on top of a 6 inch French Drain

Installing Gravel on top of a 6-inch French Drain

French Drain in Flower Bed in Edmond

French Drain in Flower Bed in Edmond

 

 

A common Drainage Problem for people in Central Oklahoma is ground water seeping into floor air conditioner ducts.  This can cause very costly damage to a home or business.  Water-proofing Ducts, or even worse, trying to remove mold from duct work can cost big bucks.

Structural Engineer

Structural Engineers typically recommend French Drain Installation to keep water out of ducts.

French Drains catch and remove sub-surface water that is traveling underground toward a foundation. It is intercepted by the French Drain before it can seep under the building in question.   Because this water is not usually seen, it may not be taken into consideration when diagnosing drainage problems.  Surface Water traveling to a problem area is obvious as it flows on the surface in plain sight.

Gutter connected straight into 6 inch French Drain System in Oklahoma City

Gutter Connection

Oklahoma Drainage has 30 years of experience Diagnosing Drainage Problems.  We always check for sub-surface water flow into any Problem Drainage Area.

Installing Channel Drain Across Sidewalk in Norman

Installing Channel Drain Across Sidewalk in Norman

Don’t Do Well in Small Areas

French Drains can also be used to remove water that is standing in a large area such as up against a foundation or along a fence.  They don’t do so well in tight small areas.  These areas are best suited for a Surface Drain with a grate.  Many times, we install French Drains along foundations after a homeowner has spent large amounts of money on foundation repair.

Surface Drain Installation in Edmond

Surface Drain Installation in Edmond

Several Foundation Repair companies and Duct waterproofing companies recommend Oklahoma Drainage for French Drain Installation.    Typically, we install a French Drain by itself or as part of a Drainage System  after they have completed their repairs to the foundation or duct work.

 

 

Curb Outlet for French Drain in Edmond Oklahoma

Curb Outlet 

 

Drainage Problems occur in all types of places.  Water can stand along fences or driveways, or in yards and flowerbeds.   Damage can be done to sidewalks and in yards.  Finding a good Drainage Solution usually involves a French Drain.

 

French Drain Running Through Low Areas in Yukon

Drainage System

Oklahoma Drainage provides quality service for central Oklahoma.  If you live in Norman and need a French Drain, or if you live in Oklahoma City and want a Channel Drain installed across your driveway, give us a call.  We have installed Drainage Systems and French Drains in:  Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Midwest City, Norman, Yukon, Mustang, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle and all surrounding areas.