We solve all types of unwanted water problems in and around your home or business. Oklahoma Drainage Provides: Drainage System Installation utilizing French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps
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If you need a French Drain along an exterior wall, or a surface drain installed in concrete in a sidewalk or driveway, or a sump pump in a basement, we can help. There are literally thousands of specific drain installation applications.
Hard rain and flooding seem to be more common all the time. When I started this business in 1993, having over an inch of rainfall in an hour was pretty extreme. Now having over 4 inch an hour rainfall is not unheard of and is becoming more common.
Protecting our homes and businesses from unwanted water should be a goal for all of us.
Oklahoma Drainage has seen and dealt with virtually every possible Drainage and Standing water problem that can occur in or around your home. With over 2700 Drainage Systems installed since 1993; we have amassed a great deal of experience. This is helpful in seeing underlying problems.
We look for Secondary Water Issues not just the Primary ones. In this business EXPERIENCE TRULY COUNTS!
Hiring your brother- in- law or a Landscape Company to put in your Drainage System is a bad idea. If a landscape company also installs French Drains, you should run!
Why don't they specialize??? Does your Lawyer also do physical therapy?
Some Builders also make bad choices concerning drainage on new homes they are building. New houses should not have problems with water. Builders usually have a landscape company that installs their drains. Sometimes it's a maintenance guy that works for the builder. It's Usually the cheapest fix possible. I've testified in more than one class action lawsuit where a whole housing sub-division had unnecessary Drainage Issues.
Water can cause a huge amount of damage. How important is your money and your home? Over 30% of the work done by Oklahoma Drainage is fixing other people's mistakes. I appreciate the work, but I get frustrated when bad things happen to good people concerning water!
Blane Callen, 405 203 9419
A Trench Liner is a semi-permeable fabric that lets water pass through it into the French Drain.
It is placed in the empty French Drain Trench before the French Drainpipe or Gravel are installed.
The Trench Liner’s purpose is to Maintain the integrity and functionality of the French Drain without allowing Debris to enter or clog the Perforated Pipe.
Debris typically is Mulch or Grass Clippings. It can even be sand or dirt.
Installing a Trench Liner is the Key to ensuring that the French Drain will work correctly for a long time. I have installed French Drains in 1993 that still work.
French Drain with Trench Liner and Pipe Filter
The white fabric in the picture above is the Trench Liner. The black fabric around the pipe is the Pipe Filter. They work together to make the French Drain last.
Many “Weekend Warriors,” or Landscape Companies that don’t specialize in French Drain Installation, skip installing Trench Liner and Pipe Filter. It may save a small amount of time or money.
Big mistake!
In a short amount of time the French Drain will clog up and quit working.
Perforated French Drainpipe with Pipe Filter
What is the point of installing a French Drain if it won’t last very long?
Trench Liner and Pipe Filter Installed in French Drain
Drainage Systems have three parts, an “INTAKE,’ A “TRANSITION,” and an “EXIT.”
A French Drain takes water in through a perforated pipe. This is the, “Intake,” portion mentioned above. The French Drain is how the water gets into the Drainage System.
The Perforated Pipe is placed at the bottom of the Drainage Trench.
To Review, A French Drain’s Job is to put water into the Drainage System
The French Drain takes in water and places it into the Drainpipe. The Drainpipe is in a Drainage Trench that crosses a large area that has water problems.
The French Drainpipe is connected to a solid drainpipe. The water moves through the French Drainpipe into the solid Pipe. The Solid Drainpipe is the TRANSITION. It takes the water where you want it to go.
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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, OklahomaDrainage 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.
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 Pictures can be important. If you have hired a contractor to install a French Drain, you should have some idea of what it should look like.
First, the trench must be dug for the French Drain. The French Drain trench can be across dirt or gravel.
Next the Trench Liner needs to be installed. The Liner is a semi-permeable filter that keeps the dirt out of the French Drainpipe, but lets the water in the Drain Pipe.
French Drain Installation Next to Wall, Installing Trench Liner
Fill With Gravel
Gravel or crushed Limestone is placed on top of the French Drainpipe but still inside the trench liner.
The White Material is the Trench Liner. The black material is the Pipe Filter.
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.
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, OklahomaDrainage 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.
Back Yard French Drain
French Drain Protecting Driveway
Installing Decorative French Drain the Right Way
Decorative stone can be placed on top of any French Drain.
Completed Decorative French Drain
Don’t Put Dirt on Top of the French Drain
You don’t want to put dirt on top of an “Open” French Drain. This will prevent surface water or standing water from going into the French Drain. You can however allow grass to grow over a French Drain on its own by putting out “runners.” The grass will grow over the gravel or limestone on its own. It will produce a “Thatch Filter.” This is a good thing. Standing water will disappear into the grass. It helps keep dirt out of the drain too!
provides top quality Sprinkler Repair Service. If you live in Oklahoma City and need a Sprinkler Head moved, we can help. You might have a Sprinkler Pipe leak that needs attention. A Sprinkler Valve might we wore out as well. You might just want a Sprinkler System Checkup for Spring. For these problems and many others, Oklahoma Drainage can help.
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.
We service Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond and all of Central and Western Oklahoma.
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.
Take a minute and CLICK the above link. It makes me smile!
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.
Once you have decided that you need a French Drain and understand what it is and how it works, There are many MISTAKES that should be avoided. Oklahoma Drainage has been installing most all variations of French Drains since 1993.
are very common and unfortunate. Mistakes are caused by many different reasons. One or several mistakes can cause aNew 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 Installationare highly motivated. Unwanted water in your AC Floor Ducts for example, motivates folks to do something quickly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1. Water gets to the problem area by falling from the sky.
2. Water gets to the problem area by flowing downhill over the ground.
3. Water gets to the problem area by flowing underground. (Sub-Surface water flow)
Number 3, Sub-Surface water flow is the big consideration. When doing a Drainage Diagnostic, this is the area that is many times missed or not considered by less experienced companies. People Don’t always think about water flowing underground. They only consider what they see. This is a big mistake when considering how to best address a Water Problem.
Oklahoma Drainage relies on 30 years of experience. Many Times, it is cheaper and more effective to install a French Drainover a Surface Drain. A Surface Drain can’t move as much water as a French Drain, and a Surface Drain can’t Drain away Sub-Surface water. Surface Drains should be installed in areas where the Drainage Problem area is smaller and is not affected by sub-surface water.
The drawback to aFrench Drain, is that it is not a pretty aFrench Drainsdo a great job running along foundations and driveways. A French Drain will keep water away from cement and prevent damage to concrete if water should freeze up against it. A French Drain can keep your foundation Dry.
used in a Drainage System is A “French Drain.” Many times a French Drain is installed close to a building foundation or in a low area next to a home or business.
The Drainage System Design should also take into account the size of the French Drainand the Gutters. If you have a large long French Drain or over-sized gutters, the number of Gutter Down Spouts connected into the French Drain Should be reduced.
This problem can usually be solved by increasing the size of the French Drain Pipe. This usually means moving up from a 4 inch French Drainpipe to a 6 inch French Drain Pipe. Four inch is the most common size of French Drainpipe. If you have more than 3 gutter Down Spouts to connect, you should move up to a 6 inch French Drainpipe.
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
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 Diagnosticfor 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 Problemshave 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 Drainpipeis necessary to lessen the chance of being overwhelmed by flooding? This is a tough
The Drainage System shown in the three above pictures consisted of the following:
Three Gutter Downspoutsin 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.
then connected to 55 feet of 4-inch French Drain that was installed along the SW corner of the house. The French Drainprovided 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.
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.
A basic French Drain consists of aPerforated Drain Pipein the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Areathat 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.
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. The limestone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforatedDrain Pipeand filled all the way to the surface (ground level).
Sandy Soil
In some cases where theFrench Drainneeds to be deep or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforatedDrain Pipe 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 aFrench Drainabout 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
Drains can protect your home and property from water damage. Large 6 Inch French Drain Installed in Norman
Drainage Systemscan be made up of one drainor a combination of many drains. Drainage problems can be very complex. Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drainsall 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 drainconnected together.
A simple Drainage System might consist of a Surface Drain that is connected to a second Surface Drainwhich 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 theDrainage System. Determining the Exit Point is very critical. It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.
1. Keep water away from foundations— AFrench Drainis 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 Drainalso 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 Drainslook 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.
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 Drainfor 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 asprinkler 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 Drainor 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:
French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water
Surface Drainsmove 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 theDrainage 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 Emitteris connected to the end of aDrain Pipe. It is downhill from a French Drainor 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 desirableDrainage Exit Pointwhere there is no curb.Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.
Many times people use the term ” French Drain” as general name for a Drain used in or around your home. French Drains are designed to move a lot of water over a large, flooded area. They are also designed to take water in on the surface of the ground or below the surface of the ground. This is very important if the water coming into the flooded area is moving through the ground or coming up from underneath. ” Sub Surface Water Movement.” The picture below is not a French Drain!
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 Drainpipe 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 drainpipe 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 drainpipe 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.
Harsh weather inOklahoma 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.
Drainage Systems can be made up of one drainor a combination of many drains. Drainage problems can be very complex. Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drainsall 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 waterdrain 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 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 Drainalso 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 Drainslook 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.
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.
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 Drain Pipe 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.)
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 Drainor French Drain that needs to be installed. It also helps to determine the size of Drainpipe 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:
French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water
Surface Drainsmove 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 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.
The Drainage Pop-Up Emitteris connected to the end of a Drainpipe. It is downhill from a French Drainor 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.
