Drainage Diagnostics is a way of figuring out what to do about your Water Problem. Typically, many things must be considered when completing a Drainage Diagnostic.
Small Channel Drain Installed On Patio In Lawton, Drain Definitions
Drainage Diagnostics
1. Identify the areas being damaged by water and determine if there are any hidden areas. The big water problem areas are easy to see, hidden areas are the less noticeable. We look for secondary Drainage Problems, not just the Primary Drainage. This helps prevent missing something small that will become a problem once the big Drainage Issues are fixed.
2. Identify the sources of water causing the damage. Most Drainage Problems have more than one source. A water source can fall from the sky as rain, or can flow down the hill as storm-water runoff, or can flow from a gutter down-spout (yours or your neighbor’s), or flow under ground as sub-surface water flow, or water can flow off a sidewalk, driveway, or street. (These are the most common)
Exit Point
3. Identify the Exit Point. Where should the unwanted water be taken.
4. Determine what type of Drains can best solve the Drainage Problem. We utilize: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, and Sump Pumps.
5. Determine what type and size of Drainpipe is needed to accommodate the volume of water to be drained. Larger is always better! Big Drains with Small Drainpipes are never a good combination! Above are a few of the principles utilized by Oklahoma Drainage when solving a water problem. (Drainage Diagnostic)
Recently we had a customer with a sever water problem. They had recently purchased a new home which was built on a hill side. The hill behind the house was steep and the grade to keep the water from running into their back porch wasn’t very good.
Water was running under the cement slab of the back porch. To make matters worse cracking was occurring in the new concrete.
The Solution involved installing a 6 inch French drain running the entire length of the house to intercept the surface water running down the hill into the house.
More importantly, the French Drain intercepted the underground sub-surface water that was running down the hill and under the slab.
French Drains protect homes and foundations from surface water and sub-surface water.
We also connected 6 gutter down spouts directly into the drainage system. Problem solved.
We also Install Channel Drains across Driveways and Sidewalks.
French Drain Connected to a Channel Drain across the Driveway, Drain Definitions
Basic French Drain Installation
consists of a Perforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Area that needs to be drained. The French Drainpipe is perforated (Full of Small Holes) and has Neo-Prene Soc around the pipe. This soc helps prevent debris from clogging the French Drainpipe.
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. Sometimes 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 in the cut.
Setting the concrete around the channel drain
Perforated Pipe, Filter, and Liner installed in a drainage trench.
The Initial Dig
The water started draining away as soon as we dug the Drainage Trench. Once the Pipe and Limestone were installed, it drained away even faster.
The trench liner allows sub surface water to pass through it and reach the French Drainpipe. The reason it is installed is to maintain the integrity of the drainage trench, so it doesn’t collapse over time. It also helps protect the pipe from filling up with mud or sand, clogging the French Drain.
Below is a picture of a French Drain that we had to take out and replace because it had no liner or filter around the Pipe.
French Drain Installation
The French Drainpipe shown above has a neo Preen soc around it to prevent sand and debris from clogging the French Drain. The next step is to add the limestone on top.
Other types of stone can be used as well.
French Drain with colored gravel.’
A French Drain with River Rock
The type of rock
that covers a perforated French Drainpipe can be just about any type of quality gravel or crushed stone. Very small, crushed stone or sand is not a good idea, however. The water must be able to flow through the stone to reach the perforated pipe.
Servicing Central Oklahoma including Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Norman, Purcell, Newcastle, Blanchard and surrounding areas.
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.
French Drain or Surface 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 limestone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well.
Crushed Limestone or Gravel
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. 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.
- French Drain
The main downfall of a French Drain
DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER A FRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME.
-
A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain, and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.
- Channel Drain
Drainpipe running to street from French Drain
French Drain in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – Expert Sprinkler Repair for all Residential Lawn Sprinkler Systems
Emergency Service – After hours and Weekends
We service all of Central and Western Oklahoma
Since 1993 we have:
Fixed leaking sprinkler pipes in Edmond
Replaced Sprinkler Valves in Norman
Adjusted Sprinkler Heads In Oklahoma City
Installed A New Back Flow Valve in Lawton
and over 2000 other Sprinkler Repairs in Central and Western Oklahoma.
Sprinkler Repair in Oklahoma City.
Recently we spent an afternoon checking out a Sprinkler System in Northwest Oklahoma City. The customer told us that many of the heads in the System had a variety of problems. Her Sprinkler System was fairly large so the Sprinkler System Checkup would take some time.
Sprinkler System Checkup
First, we had to run each Sprinkler Zone and look at each Sprinkler Head individually. This took a while. After that we fixed everything without a “Hitch.”
