Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 405 203 9419

When we run solid Drainpipe across yards to an Exit Point, the sod usually can be put back into place and in a few days you can’t tell a French Drain was ever Installed.

A French Drain is designed to handle a large volume of water and cover a large area. The Drain is anyplace the trench goes. It has many applications and can be used in many situations.  It can be installed by itself or incorporated into a Drainage System with Surface Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.

of a French 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 the French Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the limestone.  Grass can grow up and through the gravel in the French Drain over time eventually covering the gravel.  This is OK.  It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of the French Drain.

In some cases thick grass growing up through the French Drain will create a natural “Thatch” filter.  This makes the French Drain invisible.  The trick is to allow the grass to grow over the French Drain Gravel without covering it up with dirt.  Grasses such as Bermuda which grow well in the sun will put out runners and new roots and will grow up and through the French Drain.  This will not affect the performance of the French Drain.  The problem is that sometimes depending on the type of soil involved, it may take a long time to completely cover up the French Drain.  Sprinkling grass seed down in the gravel will speed up the process.

DON’T COVER THE GRAVEL IN THE FRENCH DRAIN WITH DIRT.  THE FRENCH DRAIN WON’T WORK IF THE TRENCH IS CLOGGED WITH DIRT.  DON’T EVEN INSTALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COVER IT UP WITH DIRT.   

                                         A.  Leave the French Drain as-is and allow grass to grow over it in time.

                                         B.  Add grass seed directly to the French Drain gravel with (Light Hand Watering) to speed the growth process

                                         C.  Leave the French Drain as-is but decorate it with steppingstones and landscaping rocks (leaving large cracks between stones to allow water to get into the French Drain,

2

                                        A.  Leave the French Drain as-is, it will work well and look as it did for many years.

                                        B.  Leave the French Drain as-is, but decorate it with steppingstones or landscaping rocks.  Many French Drains are hidden under rock walkways.

Recently we had a customer in Oklahoma City who wanted to move his Sprinkler Valves.  They were in a bad place in his flower bed.  He wanted to plant a tree where the valves were located.

We moved 4 Sprinkler Valves about feet out into the yard.  All the Sprinkler Pipes had to be redesigned and installed matching the new location and maintaining full functionality.

 

What Is a Sprinkler Valve?

Think of a Sprinkler Valve as an “Off or on” Switch.    The Sprinkler Controller   turns the valves on or off.

It Sends a signal through a wire which is underground to the sprinkler valve somewhere in your yard.

Once turned on, the valve lets water pass through a sprinkler pipe to a specific group of sprinkler heads called a Sprinkler Zone.  The controller allows water to reach the sprinkler heads for a certain amount of time running through the sprinkler valve.  Once the time is up, it shuts off the sprinkler valve and moves on to the next valve in sequence.

Think of it as walking into every room in your house one at a time.  As you enter you turn on the light.  As you leave you turn off the light and move to the next room. You are the controller.  The light switch represents the sprinkler valve.

The Sprinkler Valve in the picture above was taken out of the ground after the pipe froze and broke on the right side.  You can see the crack in the PVC pipe.  Of course, I had to clean all the mud off the valve before I took the picture.

What causes a Sprinkler Valve to stop working?

Like anything else, a sprinkler valve can wear out.   Sprinkler valves fail in closed position.  It won’t run continuously if it breaks.

Sprinkler Valves get stuck while running sometimes.   The water supply must be then turned off to stop the Sprinkler from running.

Sprinkler Valves can freeze and break in the winter if the sprinkler system has not been properly drained for winter’s cold.

(winterized)

Tree roots can twist or break sprinkler pipes running into sprinkler valves.  Magnolia Trees are really bad about this.  Oak trees can cause damage too.

Driving something heavy across your yard can crush sprinkler valves.  Usually riding lawnmowers don’t cause damage but any truck or car will if you drive over a valve.

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 provides Service for all of Central Oklahoma Including:  Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Mustang.

Emergency Sprinkler Repair

Sometimes things go wrong with sprinkler systems.

 

IF YOU NEED HELP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR ON A WEEKEND WITH YOUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM, GIVE US A CALL.

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR.  405 203 9419

IT MAY TAKE A FEW HOURS FOR US TO GET THERE BUT WE WILL COME TO HELP.

 

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.