Posts Tagged ‘French Drain Information’

Do I need a French Drain?

Posted: March 12, 2023 in french drain, French Drain Repair
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Do I need a French Drain?

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 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

The need for Drainage Systems is increasing in Oklahoma.  During heavy thunder storms,  homes and business need a way to drain water away.  Storm water can cause many kinds of damage.  Here are just a few:

1.  Driveways and Sidewalks can crack and deteriorate

2.  Foundations can crack move or shift

3.  Vents and ducts can fill with water

4.  Mold can be allowed to grow

5.  Trees and Plants and grass can be damaged or drown

Too much water is never a good thing!

Oklahoma Drainage can quickly diagnose your Drainage Problem and provide a free quote for a Drainage System.  With twenty years of experience, we realize that Drainage Problems may be very complex and difficult or very straight forward and simple.  Every Drainage Problem is unique to a certain degree.  Don’t kid yourself,  Experience Counts!

What is the Primary Water Problem?

We take many things into account when providing a Drainage Diagnostic for a Customer.  We determine:

1.  What is the Primary Water Source to the problem?  Where is the water coming from?

2.  Is there a Secondary Water Source?  Other Places that water may be coming from.    All Drainage Problems have more than one source!

3.  How many Subsequent Water Sources are present?   Some complex Drainage Problems have many water sources.

4.  What exit points are available for gravity to move water away from the problem area?  Where are we trying to take the water to, and how is it

going to be released?  Is more than one exit point possible to increase capacity?

5   How much water must be moved?  What Size Drainpipe is necessary to lessen the chance of being overwhelmed by flooding?    This is a tough

consideration.  (Larger Pipe – Larger Cost to Install)

6 Inch French Drain Installation
6 Inch French Drain Installation

These are just a few of the considerations for any Drainage System Diagnostic.

DSC00490
4 Inch Drainpipe running under sidewalk

The Drainage System shown in the three above pictures consisted of the following:

Three Gutter Downspouts in the front yard were connected to 4-inch ADS solid Drainpipe with Large Drainage Gutter Connections.  Three lateral 4-inch Pipes were run from each gutter to one outflow pipe moving the water to two exit Pop Up Emitters. One of the Drainpipes ran under the sidewalk to reach the Exit Drainpipe.

This Drainage System had two exit points.  One Pop-Up Emitter was on the edge of the driveway in the front yard.  The other Pop-Up Emitter was installed in the back yard near the property line.  Two exit points allows for a much larger Water Drainage Capacity.  (During Heavy Rains the Drainage System Can Move More Water Faster)

The back yard Exit Pipe

then connected to 55 feet of 4-inch French Drain that was installed along the SW corner of the house.  The French Drain provided a protective barrier for that room of the house where water had previously been leaking into the floor vents.  Two Gutter Down Spouts were also connected in the back yard to the Drainage System.

Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.
Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

A few days later a heavy rain came in.  No water stood on the sidewalk near the front door, and nor water seeped into the floor vents in the back bedroom.

 

 

French Drain Problems, French Drain Mistakes, French Drain Definition

Posted: December 17, 2022 in french drain
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French Drain Problems, French Drain Mistakes, French Drain Definition

Don’t put dirt on top of a French Drain!!!!!

 

It prevents surface water from entering the French Drain. French Drains have gravel or crushed stone at the surface to allow water to flow freely into the perforated French Drainpipe at the bottom of the drainage trench. If you don’t like how a French Drain looks, you should consider:

  1. Do you know exactly what a French Drain is?
  2. Do you know exactly what a French Drain is Designed to Do?

Putting Dirt on top of your French Drain is similar to trying to put gas in your car by opening your gas cap like you always do.  Then taking the gas pump hose and spraying gas all over the roof of your car.  A drop or two of gas might trickle down and accidentally go into your open gas cap.  You sure won’t be able to drive very far!  Seems very silly doesn’t it.  

I come across French Drains all the time with dirt or sod on top of them.  Don’t get me wrong! I make a good living fixing or replacing Drains of all kinds that are installed by people or companies that don’t know what they are doing.  “Landscape Companies” and “Brother-in-Laws,” seem to make the most mistakes.  Bless them!!

This is not a French Drain!!!

 

Surface Drain installation

Surface Drain

 

This is not a French Drain either!

 

Installing concrete channel drain

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

What is a French Drain?

French Drain under walk way

French Drain installed under walkway

 

This is a French Drain! 

It is a perforated pipe placed in a drainage trench.  The French Drainpipe is placed in a Drainage Trench with a French Drain Liner in the trench and a Neo-preen filter or “Soc” around the Pipe.  The trench is then filled with gravel or crushed stone of some kind.

French Drain along walk

French Drain along walkway

walk way french drain

Completed French Drain under walkway

 

 

UNDERSTANDING DRAINAGE SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY.

Posted: March 19, 2022 in Drain Installation, french drain
Tags:
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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 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

If you have a problem with standing water or have water getting into a place that it shouldn’t be, causing damage and stress, A Drainage System is needed to solve your problem.

First you must understand that your own observations determine the Drainage System Design. You need to be comfortable with Drainage Terminology.

There are 2 basic categories of Drainage Systems.

  1. Standard Drainage Systems
  2. Flood Prevention Systems

A Standard Drainage System is a System that Drains away water after it enters the Problem Drainage Area. Once in the area the water is drained away over time. The better the Drainage System, the faster and more completely the water is removed.

A Flood Prevention System is a Drainage System that intercepts water before it ever enters the Problem Drainage Area. Flood

Prevention Systems typically are more robust.  They must have larger pipes or more pipes to handle extreme flooding.  

There may be situations where Drainage Systems or Flood Prevention Systems fail due to extreme flooding.  A flood may put the Exit point of the Drainage System under water.  If your entire property is under water, nothing will drain until the flood goes away.

With that being said, Your Drainage System may be in a location that it is impossible to flood or very unlikely.

So, Step one is to decide,” Do I want a Standard Drainage System? OR, Do I want a Flood Prevention System?”

French Drain

French Drain Intake

The next consideration is the Design of your drainage system.  Do you need a French Drain or a Surface Drain? Maybe you need both!

Channel Drain Installation

Channel Drain Installation

A Channel Drain is one of many types of Surface Drains.

Surface Drain next to sidewalk

Drain Grate

French Drain In Norman, Information, French Drain Photos, French Drain Tips

Posted: January 26, 2021 in Drain Installation, french drain
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Harsh weather in Oklahoma seems to becoming more common.  In 2013,  Norman Oklahoma had 4 inches of rain in two hours.  That’s the most rain in a short time that I can remember.  Storm-Water runoff can cause damage to all types of property and buildings.  Water getting inside your house is never a good thing.  A Drainage System that utilizes a French Drain can help.

French Drain protects sidewalk
French Drain keeps water off of sidewalk

Drains can protect your home and property from water damage. Large 6 Inch French Drain Installed in Norman

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.

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.

Sump Pump Installation

Sump Pump Installation

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.

An “Exit Point” is the term used for where all the water leaves the Drainage System.  Determining the Exit Point is very critical.  It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

Gutter to French Drain
Connecting Gutter to French Drain

Drainage Systems can:

1.  Keep water away from foundations — A French Drain is best because it can move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water (water moving under ground) away from the foundation.  Many times less experienced companies install Surface Drains to keep water away from foundations.  This can be a big mistake.  A Surface Drain can’t move or drain Sub-Surface Water.   Also A Surface Drain often can’t move enough water fast enough and easily becomes overwhelmed during a heavy rain.  A Surface Drain also can’t cover or protect a broad enough area. Surface Drains should be designed in a Drainage System to be located in smaller Drainage Areas moving moderate amounts of water.  Surface Drains look better than French Drains.  If ,”appearance” is more important than Drainage Capacity, Go with the Surface Drain.  Just know what you are getting into and what your expectations should be. One side of a foundation alone,  can be over 100 feet.  A 4 inch or 6 inch French Drain is best when protecting a large area such as a foundation.Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.

Drain connection to gutter

Gutter Connected to Drain

2.  Keep water away from small or enclosed areas.  This might be a low area just through a gate on the side of a house, or the low area between a flowerbed and the wall of a house, or standing water on or near a sidewalk or driveway.  These types of Drainage Problems are best served with Surface Drains.  A Surface Drain can move water away from a low area that is relatively small.  This can occur in yards, flowerbeds, sidewalks and driveways.  A Surface Drain is designed to move Surface Water away from a problem area to a predetermined exit point.  Surface Drains are available in many sizes.  How quickly they remove standing water is usually determined by the size of the Drain Pipe that is connected to the Drain.Surface Drain Installation in Norman

Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drain Pipes that take water away from a place that has water standing on it or flowing across it.  The water that is in the problem area, can be causing damage or may be inconvenient or both.  (Usually Both)  A simple Drainage System is a Drain for the water to enter, a Drain Pipe to move the water away from the Drain, and an Exit Point for the water to be released out of the Drain Pipe.

Drainage Systems quickly can become more complicated.  Considerations must include:

How does the water get to the problem area?  There may be one or many sources.

Water Sources:

1.  It falls from the sky directly

2.  It flows down hill over the surface (surface water)

3.  It flows underground under the surface (sub-surface water)

4.  It flows from the edge of a roof ( There may be many roofs near the problem area, neighbors etc.)

5.  It flows from a gutter downspout

6.  It flows over the edge of a gutter because the gutter is too small is is clogged

7.  It flows up from the ground (seeps and springs are common in Oklahoma)

8.  It flows from a sprinkler system use ( yours or your neighbors)

9.  It flows from a leaking pipe ( water mains, water meters, water lines, sprinkler pipes, sprinkler valves)

There are other reasons for Drainage Problems, the above reasons are just the most common.

Once the number of water sources is determined, a rough estimate of the amount of water that needs to be drained away on average must be estimated.  This can be simplified down to “SMALL, MEDIUM, OR LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER TO BE DRAINED AWAY.  You don’t have to be an engineer trying to calculate fluid dynamics.  Experience at diagnosing drainage problems helps however.  How much water needs to be moved will help determine the type and size of the Surface Drain or French Drain that needs to be installed.  It also helps to determine the size of Drain Pipe required for the Drainage System.  A good rule to follow is, “If in doubt, install a larger Drain and Drain Pipe.”  Unused Drainage Capacity is better than property damage caused by a Drain that is overwhelmed by too much water.

For home and small business use typical materials used are:

6 inch, 9 inch, and 12 inch Surface Drains –

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch Drain Pipes —

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch French Drains —

French Drains move more water than Surface Drains —

French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water

Surface Drains move Surface Water only

Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases

Once the type and number of drains is determined and what size Drain Pipe will connect them, an exit point must be selected.  (Where is the Drainage System going to take the water to and release it?)

The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into the Street.   The Drainage Curb Fitting is rectangular in shape and made to be installed through the curb.  A small section of Curb is cut out with a concrete saw.  The Section is a few inches wider than the Drainage Curb Fitting.  We then install new concrete around the curb fitting.  Once the concrete has dried, the Drain Pipe coming from a French Drain or Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.Cutting The Curb and Installing Curb Fitting for French Drain

The Drainage Pop-Up Emitter is connected to the end of a Drain Pipe.  It is downhill from a French Drain or a Surface Drain.  It is a small release basin with a green pop-up lid.  When releasing water, it pops up about an inch to release the water from the French Drain or Surface Drain.  When the Storm Water has moved through the Drainage System and out of the Pop-Up Emitter, the green lid closes back to its original closed position.  The emitter is designed to release water out into a yard or down a hill or other desirable Drainage Exit Point where there is no curb.Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

Drainage System installation and design is a big part of our business.  Does your sidewalk turn into a moat after a hard rain?Does part of your yard look like a pond after a thunderstorm?Worst of all, are you experiencing concrete deterioration to your foundation, sidewalk, or driveway.  Oklahoma Drainage can design a Drainage System to solve your Drainage Problems.  Our Drainage Systems can be simple or complex.We utilize, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Basin Drains, Basement Drains, Trench Drains, and Sump Pumps.  Estimates are free

French Drain Information, French Drain Photos, French Drain Problems

Posted: January 24, 2021 in Drain Installation, french drain
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Oklahoma Drainage— Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.  We do Lawn Leveling, Dirtwork, and Sod Installation Too!!

 

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

FRENCH DRAIN IN EDMOND OKLAHOMA, 

Surface Drain set in concrete

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – French Drain Installation, Drainage System Design, Expert Lawn Sprinkler Repair,  Drain Repair 

channel drain driveway
Channel Drain set in Driveway

Recently Oklahoma Drainage 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.  The French Drain design 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 Drain Pipe and continue on around the house to the Pop-Up Emitter down hill in the side yard.  Along the way we attached several Gutter Down Spouts into the French Drain.

French Drain Connected to Curb outlet

new curb outlet

Curb outlet with more than 6 inches of fall

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

 

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, Sprinkler Repair, with 26 years of experience. 

 

Just what is a “French Drain?” 

 

 

 
 
 
 

A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Area that needs to be drained.   The French Drain Pipe is perforated (Full of Small Holes) and has Neo-Prene Soc around the pipe.  This soc helps prevent debris from clogging the French Drain Pipe.

 
 
muddy french drain installation

Installing a French Drain in the mud

Standing water can cause a lot of damage to your yard.  The above picture was from a French Drain Installation in Oklahoma City.

Many times we wait until things dry out a bit before beginning a French Drain Installation.  Some times the water never goes away.  So we start digging in standing water and putting the mud in a wheelbarrow.   We then haul it to a dump trailer to be hauled away.  It isn’t the easiest thing to do.

Setting in the channel drain

Setting in the Channel Drain in the cut.

 

Channel Drain in Oklahoma City

Drainage System Installation in Norman

French Drain Photos and Information, Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond

Posted: January 7, 2021 in french drain, French Drain Information, French Drain Installation, French Drain Photos
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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 Sun Room.  Every time he had a hard rain, Water would run in one door and out the other.  An indoor creek across his Sun Room.

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 Drain pipe to the French Drain and ran down hill around the corner of the house to the street.

Once the 4 inch solid drain pipe 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 drain pipe 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 cant tell that we made any changes to the sprinkler system at all.

connecting gutter to French Drain

Connecting Gutter to French Drain

French Drain Photos and information

french drain pipe in trench

French Drain Trench

French Drain Trench

French Drain Trench

French Drain gravel

French Drain covered with limestone

French Drain Success, Information, Sprinkler Repair, Photos, French Drain Design.

Posted: July 7, 2020 in french drain, Sprinkler Repair
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French Drain Success

Oklahoma Drainage – x    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.

If you live in Norman and have water standing on your driveway, we can install a Channel Drain for you.

If you live in Edmond and have water flooding your basement, we can install a Sump Pump for you.

If 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!

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.

Recently we installed a French Drain that ran parallel between two houses in Moore Oklahoma.  We also installed a French Drain under a walkway to a pool in Choctaw.

French Drain walk way

French Drain Installed along and under walk way to pool.

As you can see, we installed a French Drain under the left edge of the walk way.  The stones and gravel were temporarily removed while the French Drain was installed. Then the walk way was put back on top of the French Drain.

Finished French Drain

Completed French Drain under walk way

Yesterday it rained very hard on the walkway in Choctaw.  We received a text from the home owner.

 

Before we installed the French Drain, our customer told us that the walk way to the pool typically stood in 6 inches of water after even a small rain.  The water would pool on the right side and stay there for a long time after the rain had gone.  As you can see in the text pic, there is very little water standing while it is raining, and when the rain stopped, the water was gone completely.

Our customer in Moore also sent us a text as well.  He had standing water between his house and his neighbors.  His neighbor did not have any gutters which made the water problem worse.  We installed a French Drain running down the property line between the two houses.  We connected the customer’s gutters directly into the Drainage System with 4 inch gutter connections.  Had the neighbor had gutters, we would have connected them as well.  The French Drain transitioned to a solid drainpipe which ran across the front yard, under the sidewalk to the street.  We cut the curb and installed a curb outlet.

 

 

 

new curb outlet

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.

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.

An “Exit Point” is the term used for where all the water leaves the Drainage System.  Determining the Exit Point is very critical.  It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

Drainage Systems can:

1.  Keep water away from foundations— A French Drain is best because it can move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water(water moving underground) away from the foundation.  Many times less experienced companies install Surface Drains to keep water away from foundations.  This can be a big mistake.  A Surface Drain can’t move or drain Sub-Surface Water.   Also, A Surface Drain often can’t move enough water fast enough and easily becomes overwhelmed during a heavy rain.  A Surface Drain also can’t cover or protect a broad enough area. Surface Drains should be designed in a Drainage System to be located in smaller Drainage Areas moving moderate amounts of water. Surface Drains look better than French Drains.  If, “appearance” is more important than Drainage Capacity, Go with the Surface Drain.  Just know what you are getting into and what your expectations should be. One side of a foundation alone,  can be over 100 feet.  A 4 inch or 6-inch French Drain is best when protecting a large area such as a foundation.

Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.
Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.

2.  Keep water away from small or enclosed areas.  This might be a low area just through a gate on the side of a house, or the low area between a flowerbed and the wall of a house, or standing water on or near a sidewalk or driveway.  These types of Drainage Problems are best served with Surface Drains.  A Surface Drain can move water away from a low area that is relatively small.  This can occur in yards, flowerbeds, sidewalks and driveways.  A Surface Drain is designed to move Surface Water away from a problem area to a predetermined exit point.  Surface Drains are available in many sizes.  How quickly they remove standing water is usually determined by the size of the Drainpipe that is connected to the Drain.

Surface Drain Installation in Norman
Surface Drain Installation in Norman
 

We install Drains in lots of places including, Yards, Flower Beds, Driveways, Sidewalks, and next to Swimming Pools.

Surface Drain Installation in Oklahoma City
Surface Drain Installation in Oklahoma City

Just what is a “French Drain?”  Many times, people incorrectly use the phrase, “French Drain,”  to apply to many different types of Drains that could be used in a Drainage System.  The term is widely used and many times incorrectly connected to “Surface Drains,” or “Channel Drains.”

A Surface Drain has a grate that sits on top of a basin.  The basin is underground.  A Drainpipe is connected underground to an outlet on the Drain Basin.  Stormwater Drains through the grate into the Drain Basin.  Once in the Drain Basin, water travels out of the basin through a Drainpipe.  The Stormwater continues downhill in an underground Drainpipe to an exit point.

THIS IS NOT A FRENCH DRAIN!

A Surface Drain may come in many different shapes or sizes.  The Drain Grate may be round or square.  Here is a picture of a common  Surface Drain.

Surface Drain and Drainpipe

A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain, and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.

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.

  The Drainpipe

should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drainpipe.   This is to ensure that the

Drainpipe does not become clogged.

The dirt that was 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 limestone 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. 

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 withSurface Drainsor Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.
The main downfall of aFrench Drain is that they, for the most part isn’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 theFrench Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the lime stone.  Grass can grow up and through the gravel in theFrench Drain over time eventually covering the gravel.  This is Ok.  It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of the drain.
DONT COVER THE GRAVEL IN THEFRENCH DRAINWITH 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.

DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER AFRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME.

Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drainpipes that take water away from a place that has water standing on it or flowing across it.  The water that is in the problem area, can be causing damage or may be inconvenient or both.  (Usually Both)  A simple Drainage System is a Drain

for the water to enter, a Drainpipe to move the water away from the Drain, and an Exit Point for the water to be released out of the Drainpipe.

Drainage Systems quickly can become more complicated.  Considerations must include:

How does the water get to the problem area?  There may be one or many sources.

Water Sources:

1.  It falls from the sky directly

2.  It flows down hill over the surface (surface water)

3.  It flows underground under the surface (sub-surface water)

4.  It flows from the edge of a roof ( There may be many roofs near the problem area, neighbors etc.)

5.  It flows from a gutter downspout

6.  It flows over the edge of a gutter because the gutter is too small is is clogged

7.  It flows up from the ground (seeps and springs are common in Oklahoma)

8.  It flows from a sprinkler system use (yours or your neighbors)

9.  It flows from a leaking pipe (water mains, water meters, water lines, sprinkler pipes, sprinkler valves)

There are other reasons for Drainage Problems, the above reasons are just the most common.

Once the number of water sources is determined, a rough estimate of the amount of water that needs to be drained away on average must be estimated.  This can be simplified down to “SMALL, MEDIUM, OR LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER TO BE DRAINED AWAY.  You don’t have to be an engineer trying to calculate fluid dynamics.  Experience at diagnosing drainage problems helps however.  How much water needs to be moved will help determine the type and size of the Surface Drain or French Drain that needs to be installed.  It also helps to determine the size of Drain Pipe required for the Drainage System.  A good rule to follow is, “If in doubt, install a larger Drain and Drainpipe.”  Unused Drainage Capacity is better than property damage caused by a Drain that is overwhelmed by too much water.

For home and small business use typical materials used are:

6 inch, 9 inch, and 12 inch Surface Drains–

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch Drainpipes —

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch French Drains —

French Drains move more water than Surface Drains —

French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water

Surface Drains move Surface Water only

Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

    Sprinkler Repair for all aspects of Residential Sprinkler Systems

    Emergency Sprinkler Repair Service, AFTER HOURS AND WEEKENDS.

 

French Drain Running Through Low Areas

French Drain with stepping stones

French Drain with steppingstones

French Drains are designed to cover large areas and move lots of water.  During a hard rainwater will step down through the gravel and into the Perforated French Drainpipe that is buried under the gravel.  The water fills into the pipe and moves downhill to the desired Exit Point.

French Drains like the one in the picture above that are in the sun most of the day will have grass that overgrows the limestone.  The gravel will disappear over time.  The French Drain will continue to work even after the grass has grown over it.  A “Thatch Filter ” is made up of the grass that covers the French Drain.

The French Drain then has two filters.  First is the Neo-Prene Soc that comes around the Perforated French Drainpipe.  Later when the grass grows over it, the French Drain then has a second Thatch Filter.  This ensures that the French Drainpipe won’t clog over time with dirt, sand, or debris.  This only works with grass that does well in the sun like Bermuda or Tift.

Shade Grasses won’t grow up and through French Drain gravel.

YOU DON’T WANT TO COVER THEFRENCH DRAINWITH DIRT.  IT WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE DRAINAGE PERFORMANCE OF THE FRENCH DRAIN.  IT DEFEATS THE ENTIRE REASON FOR THE FRENCH DRAIN.  IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS AND CAN’T BE PATIENT ENOUGH TO WAIT UNTIL THE GRASS GROWS THROUGH IT IF IT IS IN THE SUN, THEN DON’T INSTALL IT AT ALL.

IF THE FRENCH DRAIN IS INSTALLED IN THE SHADE, YOU CAN USE DECORATIVE ROCK TO MAKE A FOOT PATH OR ROCK GARDEN ON TOP OF IT.  YOU ARE ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR IMAGINATION.

French Drains can be decorated with many types of stone

French Drains can be decorated with many types of stone

 

clogged French Drain Pipe

result of French Drain Installed Incorrectly

Once the type and number of drains is determined and what size Drainpipe will connect them, an exit point must be selected.  (Where is the Drainage System going to take the water to and release it?)

The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into the Street.   The Drainage Curb Fitting is rectangular in shape and made to be installed through the curb.  A small section of Curb is cut out with a concrete saw.  The Section is a few inches wider than the Drainage Curb Fitting.  We then install new concrete around the curb fitting.  Once the concrete has dried, the Drainpipe coming from a French Drain or Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.

Cutting The Curb and Installing Curb Fitting for French Drain
Cutting The Curb and Installing Curb Fitting for French Drain

The Drainage Pop-Up Emitter is connected to the end of a Drainpipe.  It is downhill from a French Drain or a Surface Drain.  It is a small release basin with a green pop-up lid.  When releasing water, it pops up about an inch to release the water from the French Drain or Surface Drain.  When the Storm Water has moved through the Drainage System and out of the Pop-Up Emitter, the green lid closes back to its original closed position.  The emitter is designed to release water out into a yard or down a hill or other desirable Drainage Exit Point where there is no curb.

Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.
Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

 

Lawn Sprinkler Repair is one of our business focuses.   We can help with:

1. Sprinkler Controller Problems

2. Leaking Back-Flow Valves

3. Leaking Sprinkler Pipes

4.  Shorted or disconnected valve wires

5. Sprinkler Zones or Sprinkler Stations that won’t work

6. Broken Sprinkler Heads

The above are the most common problems that we deal with.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair– can help if you need to re-design your sprinkler system. If for example you are adding a swimming pool in your back yard, we can move the sprinkler heads and sprinkler pipes to fit the new dimensions of your yard. We can redesign or add-on to sprinkler systems where the homeowners needs change.

 

FRENCH DRAIN PICTURES, OKLAHOMA CITY, CHOCTAW, EDMOND, NORMAN

Posted: June 20, 2020 in drains, french drain, French Drain Information, French Drain Photos
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FRENCH DRAIN PICTURES

French Drain Success

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

Recently we installed a French Drain that ran parallel between two houses in Moore Oklahoma.  We also installed a French Drain under a walkway to a pool in Choctaw.

French Drain walk way

French Drain Installed along and under walk way to pool.

As you can see, we installed a French Drain under the left edge of the walk way.  The stones and gravel were temporarily removed while the French Drain was installed. Then the walk way was put back on top of the French Drain.

Finished French Drain

Completed French Drain under walk way

Yesterday it rained very hard on the walkway in Choctaw.  We received a text from the home owner.

text drain

Text and photo of French Drain

 

Before we installed the French Drain, our customer told us that the walk way to the pool typically stood in 6 inches of water after even a small rain.  The water would pool on the right side and stay there for a long time after the rain had gone.  As you can see in the text pic, there is very little water standing while it is raining, and when the rain stopped, the water was gone completely.

Our customer in Moore also sent us a text as well.  He had standing water between his house and his neighbors.  His neighbor did not have any gutters which made the water problem worse.  We installed a French Drain running down the property line between the two houses.  We connected the customer’s gutters directly into the Drainage System with 4 inch gutter connections.  Had the neighbor had gutters, we would have connected them as well.  The French Drain transitioned to a solid drain pipe which ran across the front yard, under the sidewalk to the street.  We cut the curb and installed a curb outlet.

new curb outlet

Curb outlet with more than 6 inches of fall

 

DRAIN TEXT

DRAIN TEXT

French Drain Service Choctaw, Sprinkler Repair,OKC, Norman Since 1993 — French Drain Information

Posted: May 24, 2020 in french drain, French Drain Installation, French Drain Service, sprinkler repair
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French Drain Service Choctaw since 1993.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair, 405 203 9419

French Drain Installation without much slope can be difficult.  Oklahoma Drainage makes sure that water moves through the French Drain Properly.  This is done by a simple process.

We dig the French Drain Trench.  Before putting in the pipe, liner, and filter, we ensure that the water will flow to the exit.  This is done by using a garden hose and pouring water in the trench alone.

Making Sure Water Flows

The water will flow along the trench a certain distance and then slow down or stop.  At that point we dig the trench deeper, so the water flows again down-hill.  We repeat this process the entire length of the trench.

If the water flows continuously in the trench, it will flow even better once we install the pipe.   This assures that the water will flow correctly when it rains.

French Drain Installation

French drain Installation
with trench liner and pipe filter

 

Surface Drains Installed in Driveway.

We also install Channel Drains in sidewalks and driveways.  Many types and styles are available.

 

 

 

All Drainage Systems

needs to have an exit point.  The water needs a place to go.  Oklahoma Drainage  installs cement curb outlets as one possible exit.  There are several other possibilities.

Installing Cement around Curb Fitting for French Drain in Norman

Oklahoma Drainage can install a very simple drain or a complex 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.

 

Drainage System Installation, Gutter Down Spouts Connected.

French Drain Service

 

Complex Drainage System

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.

Simple Drainage System

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.

An “Exit Point” is the term used for where all the water leaves the Drainage System.  Determining the Exit Point is very critical.  It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

French Drain Installation can be tricky sometimes.  Recently we installed a French Drain in Norman with very little “Fall”.  This means that the “Intake” For the Drainage System is close to the same level as the “Exit.”  Simply Put, it is hard to make a Drain work if it isn’t ” Down Hill,” to where the water is going.

New French Drain

French Drain with very little fall

This was the Situation for the French Drain we installed last week in Norman.  The standing water was in the back yard.  There was only one direction that we could take the unwanted water to drain away.  In this case it was only slightly downhill.

The French Drain was installed at a shallow level in the back yard.  The solid drainpipe that was attached ran from the back yard, along the side of the house to a curb outlet at the street.

connecting down spout

Connecting Gutter Down Spout to French Drain Under Sidewalk

French Drain Trench

As the trench for the Drain Pipe was dug, it had to start shallow and slowly get slightly deeper as it approached the street.  This was an absolute Precision Job.  The trench could not be even an inch too deep or too shallow along its course.

At the street, a “Pop-Up” Emitter could not be used.  It would cause the water to stop flowing.  Two Install a Pop-up Emitter at the Exit of any Drainage System,  There must be at least 6 inches of “Fall” from the Drain to the Exit.

In Our Case, we only had 3 inches of fall to work with.

The solution was to Cut the curb and Install a Curb Outlet.

This process involves cutting the Curb with a concrete saw and placing a rectangular Curb outlet in the empty space.  We then put acrylic concrete around the outlet to make it look nice.

The fact that the outlet is square or rectangular is very important.

Using a Square Curb Outlet

Many times, I look at Round Curb outlets installed by my competitors and just shake my head!  This is a mistake.  Round Curb outlets are bad when the Drainage System is at Max Capacity, and the pipe is completely full.  Air needs to be able to get into the pipe at the curb to ensure that the Drainage System can work at its Max.

The Drain will work with a Round Outlet, just not very well.

Have you ever tried to Pour liquid out of a Jug or 2 liter bottle holding it completely upside down?

It Drains and Stops and Starts as the liquid comes out.  ” Chugs” and struggles to get air up inside the hole.  It doesn’t work very well.

A Square Outlet allows air to constantly flow into the top corners of the Curb Outlet.

As a result, Much more water is moved in the same size pipe.

new curb outlet

Curb outlet with more than 6 inches of fall

Sprinkler pipes may leak for many reasons.  Pipes that are too shallow can freeze and break during the cold of winter.  Repair of PVC Sprinkler pipe in cold temperatures can be difficult.  Frozen Ground is difficult to dig up to get to the damaged pipe.  PVC Glue and Primer don’t bond very well in temperatures that are low.  Even using “Hot Glue,” which is designed to be used in cold temperatures doesn’t always produce the best results.

I use a Heat Gun

to warm the new PVC Pipe Fitting so the Hot Glue will bond correctly.  This stops the leak and ensures that the Sprinkler Pipe Repair Will Last.

Fixing a Sprinkler Pipe Leak in cold temperatures can be very difficult.  It takes a person who is willing to get wet when the temperature is below 32 degrees.

Digging in Frozen Ground isn’t easy either.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can provide the necessary expertise to handle difficult sprinkler repairs.

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.

Emergency Sprinkler Repair

Sometimes things go wrong with sprinkler systems.

 

 

One Common problem

is that they continue to run and won’t shut off.  In most cases this is a problem with a sprinkler valve that has “Stuck” in the on position.

This can be temporarily solved by shutting of the Emergency Shutoff Valve.  The problem is that some sprinkler systems don’t have one to turn off or if they do the homeowner doesn’t know where it is.

It may be on the back-flow valve which may be located on the side of the house under a big plastic fake rock.

Many sprinkler systems in Oklahoma have them. (50 % ?)  Under the plastic rock is a back-flow valve with two shut off handles.  Usually, they have blue or green or tan handles.  Turn one of the handles and it should shut off the water to your sprinkler system.

Other times the Emergency Shutoff Valve is in a box in the ground out by the curb near your water meter.  The valve box will have a green lid.  Sometimes they are difficult to open.  Many times, I had to pry them open with a flat head screwdriver.

 

Inside the valve box is a plastic handle that can turn off the water to the sprinkler system.  It can be blue or red or grey in color.

Many times, the valve box will be full of dirt, and you can’t turn or even see the handle until some of the dirt has been dug out by hand.

 

Water might be shooting up in the air somewhere on your property.  This can be caused by a broken sprinkler pipe or sprinkler valve.

SHUT OFF THE SPRINKLER WATER IF YOU CAN AND GIVE US A CALL.

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR. SERVICING ALL OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA.

405 203 9419

Servicing Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond and all of Central and Western Oklahoma

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.

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR, Provides Expert Sprinkler Repair for:  Sprinkler Valves, Sprinkler Heads, Sprinkler Controllers, and the most common problem, Sprinkler Pipes or Sprinkler Leaks.

Sprinkler Repair Service is provided for: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Blanchard, New Castle, and all surrounding areas.

The Sprinkler Repair Cost About Half of the Cost of Completely New System.

Rotor and Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads

French Drain Mistakes, Problems, and bad practices – THINGS NOT TO DO! —

Posted: May 6, 2020 in DIY Drain Installation, DIY French Drain, Drain Installation, french drain, French Drain Photos
Tags: , ,
0

French Drain Mistakes.

French Drain Mistakes

are very common and unfortunate.   Mistakes are caused by many different reasons.  One or several mistakes can cause a New French Drain to perform poorly, or not at all.  Time and money are wasted.  People with Water Damage need to have their drainage system work correctly and last a long time.

People who have need for French Drain Installation are highly motivated.  Unwanted water in your AC Floor Ducts for example, motivates folks to do something quickly.

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.

Cracking Driveways and Foundations from Water Damage is also an “ATTENTION GETTER.”

In the picture below, look at the water stains on the Driveway.  A correctly installed 6 Inch French Drain has solved the Standing Water Problem.  The driveway will stay dry and last.

French Drain Versatility

is a wonderful thing.   Correct French Drain Installation solves a wide variety of water drainage problems.

Still Mistakes Are Made.

The Biggest Mistake – Bad Advice

To Start, The Biggest French Drain Mistake is Unqualified Drainage Diagnosis.

This is taking bad advice from someone who really doesn’t know.   Bad advice leads to a Drainage System that performs poorly or won’t work at all. This Obviously, occurs all the time in today’s world, whether It be French Drain Diagnosis or Auto Repair, or any other contract work you might want done.

Additional mistakes that relate to Unqualified Drainage Diagnosis are:

1.  Selecting a Drainage Contractor that can’t provide good current References.

2.  Selecting a Drainage Contractor that has been in business less than 5 years.

3.  Selecting a Drainage Contractor that doesn’t specialize in French Drain Installation.

4.  Selecting a Drainage Contractor Who needs money up front.

In Review, If you have a French Drain Contractor who needs money up front to begin work or is also good at landscaping or pushing a lawn mower, then you should RUN!  You need References! You need to know how long they have been in business.

Another Big Mistake

The Second Most Common French Drain Mistake Is

NOT DECIDING if a French Drain should be a part of a “Drainage System,” or a “Flood Prevention System.  You need to understand the difference between the two and choose one.  A French Drain Expert can help you make that decision.   A French Drain can be a part of A Drainage System or a part of a Flood Prevention System.

A Drainage System drains water away from a Water Problem Area over time.

A Flood Prevention System prevents water from ever getting into the Problem Drainage Area in the first place.

Flood Prevention Systems Intercept Surface Water and Sub-Surface water at the same time.  The pipes are larger and more robust than the pipes in a Drainage System.  Flood Prevention Systems are more expensive and harder to install as well.

The Third mistake that is made with a French Drain being installed is lack of a Trench Liner or Pipe Filter being used.  The Trench Liner maintains the integrity of the Drainage Trench and keeps the Gravel or Crushed Stone that is used clean.

The Pipe Filter keeps Debris out of the French Drain Pipe.

Both of these things ensure longevity and functionality of a French Drain.  I have Installed French Drains all the way back to 1993 that still work great!

Setting The Fall

The 4th mistake with a French Drain Installation is ,” Not Setting The Fall of the French Drain.”  “Setting The Fall,” is a process that makes sure that water flows through the French Drain Trench at a Constant Speed.  French Drains always cross ground that is irregular.  They cross humps and low areas.  This process is done by French Drain Professionals or Individuals who are accomplished and understand the two ways that “Fall may  be set.”

“Bad Fall,” For a French Drain means that water will stand in several low areas of the French Drain underground.    Once the French Drain has finished draining, it should be empty.   You want all the water to drain out of the French Drainpipe.

By looking at the French Drain on the surface, It will look fine.    You wont be able to tell if some of the Drainage Water Stayed inside the French Drain.  Everything will look OK, but it won’t be.  If any type of tree is nearby, the tree roots will seek out the water that is left in a French drain.   Tree roots attack the French Drainpipe causing damage.  Soon French Drain Performance will drop off.  In may quit working completely over time.

TREE ROOTS WON’T ATTACK A FRENCH DRAINPIPE THAT IS EMPTY!

 

French Drain Installation

French Drain with Trench Liner and Pipe Filter

 

 

Recently we installed a Drainage System in NE Edmond.

Our customer had purchased a new home at a large discount.  The new home had sat empty for three years because of all the drainage problems on the West side of the house in the front, side, and back yard.  The builder could not sell the home.   Originally The builder of the home had installed a French Drain to solve these problems.  Whoever originally installed the system had no idea what they were doing.  Many mistakes were made.

Once the house was finally sold at a very large discount, the new homeowner hired us to come in and assess the situation.  We determined that the drainage problems could be solved.  Our quotes for drainage system installations are always free with no obligation.

Here are some of the problems we found:

  1.  A French Drain was installed, but perforated pipe was not used in the last 60 feet of the French Drain.  Crushed Limestone was used to cover the French Drain Pipe in the drainage trench, but since the pipe in the trench was solid and not perforated, the water had no way to get into the French Drain.  THIS IS LIKE PUTTING GAS INTO YOUR CAR AT THE GAS STATION BY POURING IT ON THE ROOF?
  2. In the areas where perforated pipe was used, it was installed incorrectly.  No type of filter was installed to protect the French Drain.  Neither a “Trench Liner” or a Neo-Preen soc was used to protect the perforated pipe from getting clogged.  The soil was very sandy in this NE Edmond neighborhood.  Here is the Pipe that we dug up.  Sand had completely filled the French Drain Pipe.  It was so heavy, that we had to cut it into sections just to lift it out of the trench.

    3.  Finally, the thing that left me scratching my head and made me speechless was this!  Much of the French Drain in the back yard would need to flow uphill a substantial distance to reach the exit point of the drainage system.  I can’t explain this or make it up, but somebody got paid to do this.  I’m sorry! I need to just let this go.  Anyway

     

     

    We ripped up all the bad French Drainpipe that was filled with sand.  We installed perforated French Drainpipe that had a Neo-Preen soc around it and we installed a trench liner as well.

  3. Installing French Drain

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

    Our customer is very happy!

  4.   I checked on the progress of the yard drying out yesterday, a week after the install.  He now has a normal firm back yard.

    French drain gravel

    Installing gravel on French drain

    The Bermuda grass will soon grow over the trench with the limestone.  If you have read my other blogs, you know how important this is and what it means.  CATCH YOU guys’ NEXT TIME!

 

 

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, We can install a Channel Drain for you.

If you live in Edmond and have water flooding your basement, We can install a Sump Pump for you.

Or If 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!

French Drain Installation

Oklahoma Drainage  has been diagnosing and solving Drainage Problems since 1993.  Water has the ability to get into places around your home where you really don’t want it to be.  Some drainage problems are easy to solve.  Typically water enters the problem drainage area one way from one source.  The really tricky drainage problems occur when water enters the problem drainage area from multiple directions and from multiple sources.  Sometimes a secondary water source can’t be seen or identified until the primary water problem source is eliminated.

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