Posts Tagged ‘French Drains’

Basic Sump Pump Information

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has provided Expert Service and Repair for Sump Pumps since 1993.  We install and Service Sump Pumps in: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, and Moore Oklahoma.  Service is provided for all of Central and Western Oklahoma.

If your Sump Pump has quit working, we can Help!

When you have a low-lying area that needs a French Drain, but it is up-hill in all directions and there is no way for the French Drain to move water to the Exit Point, a Sump Pump can be used.

Sump Pumps can also be used to pump water out of Basements or other enclosed low-lying areas.  Most Residential applications require a sump pump that plug into an electrical outlet.

Two Sizes of Sump Pumps

Pump Size refers to how powerful it is not how physically large it is.  For Home or Small Business use a 1/3 Horse or a 1/2 Horse Works Best.  Larger Pumps such as a 1 Horse Pump must be ordered by a supplier and must be Hard Wired to 220 voltage by an electrician.

 

Sump Pump Installation

Sump Pumps are used when water can’t be drained away by gravity.  You might have water standing in an area and it is up hill in all directions.

French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains and Gutters can all be connected to a Sump Pump.

They can be connected exclusively or as a group.

A gravity flow French Drain or Surface Drain System will not work so you must pump the water to the Exit Point.  The Same holds true if you have water standing in a basement.  Pumping out the water is the only way.

Most Sump Pumps work automatically.

When the Sump Pump is under water a float rises up on the side of the pump and turns on the pump.  The water is pumped away, the float falls back down and turns off the pump.  When water is flowing constantly on to the pump, it turns itself on and off over and over.  This could go on for hours or even days.

Sump Pump Inside Sump Cavity

Sump Pump Inside Sump Pump Cavity

A Sump Pump Cavity looks like a trash can.  When water drains into the sump cavity it raises the float and turns on the pump. Once empty it falls down and turns off the Pump.

The larger the sump cavity the less often the sump turns on and off.   A small sump cavity wears out the sump pump faster because it turns on and off more making it less efficient.

 

Larger Sump Cavity

Clean Water

A “Clean” pump must pump water that is relatively clean, or it will clog up after a while.

A” Dirty” Pump can handle water that is not so clean that has small pieces of Debris in it.

It will also clog if the debris is too thick or large.

There are several techniques that Oklahoma Drainage uses to keep a sump pump “Clog Free” and running well.

One technique is to place the sump pump on top of a cement block inside the pump cavity.  Debris and unwanted solids fall the bottom of the sump cavity and never goes through the sump.  The sump cavity must then be cleaned out on a regular basis depending on the usual amount of debris.

Once a Year is typical.  Also putting a sump pump under a tree is a bad idea.  Leaves will clog up a sump faster than anything.  Pine needles are the worst.

Below is a Sump Pump connected to a Channel Drain.  The Sump Cavity is buried in the in the area where the dirt is disturbed.  As seen in the following picture.

The Homeowner had a Sump Pump

in their basement that was fed from a French Drain outside the Basement Wall.  The French Drain was 14 feet down along the Stem wall of the house.  The French Drainpipe was cheap and had collapsed.  We brought in a Mini Excavator and dug up the pipe and replaced it with Durable ADS 4 inch perf/soc French Drain pipe.  In the end, we were able to dig up the pipe and replace it.

Next, we installed a new exit for the water by installing a curb fitting.

No more flooding in the customers basement.  A few weeks later our customer was able to lay carpet in the basement with no problems.

Sump Pump Installation is necessary when water from a Drainage System can’t flow properly.  This means it is uphill in every direction from the Drain Intake.

 

Oklahoma Drainage Installs Drainage Systems,  and provides Expert Sprinkler System Repair.

Our Drainage Systems utilize French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps.  

We Service all of Central Oklahoma including: Norman, Moore, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle, Purcell and Chickasha.

French Drain, Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond

Oklahoma Drainage — 405 203 9419

Has Standing water become a problem for you?

Do you have water in your yard and  on your sidewalk days after it rains?

A French drain or a drainage system can help.

Drainage System Installation

Drainage System Installation

 

 

French Drain Pipe running to curb outlet in Oklahoma City.

French Drainpipe running to curb outlet in Oklahoma City.

 

We service all of Central Oklahoma including: Norman, Moore, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle, Purcell and Chickasha.

 

 

Since 1993 we have gained a lot of experience addressing drainage problems Drainage problems can be complicated.  The solution is not always clear to the untrained eye.

We have redone or overhauled many drainage systems that were installed by, “weekend warriors, a brother-in-law, or a landscaping company that also installs drains.”  They all can install Drainage Systems, just not very well.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

has over 34 years of experience Diagnosing Drainage Problems.  This ensures that a Drainage System that we install won’t have Drainpipes that are too small, or Surface Drains installed where French Drains Should be placed or Exit Points that allow water to Stand and become stagnant.  The above examples are just three of many “Pit – Falls” that our experienced Drainage System Experts can easily avoid.

We install all sorts of drains such as French Drains, Sump Pumps, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, and Basement Drains.

Any one of these can be put in/around your home to eliminate those pesky puddles standing around your house or even in it.

That’s not all we can do.  We also install and repair sprinkler systems in the Central Oklahoma Area. So, if you ever need a lawn sprinkler installed or already have one and it just has a broken head or busted pipe, we can fix that.

 

4 Inch Drain Pipe Ready to be covered with dirt in Norman.
4 Inch Drainpipe Ready to be covered with dirt in Norman.

Four Types of Drains

French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Drainage Has been solving drainage problems since 1993.  We service Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Edmond, Yukon, Mid West City, Del City, Purcell, Blanchard, Mustang.

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 Drain Pipe is connected underground to an outlet on the Drain BasinStorm-Water Drains through the grate into the Drain Basin.  Once in the Drain Basin, water travels out of the basin through a Drain Pipe.  The Storm-Water continues downhill in an underground Drain Pipe 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 Drain Pipe

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

A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain.  A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench.  The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe.   This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe 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 lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipe 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 Drain 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 a French Drain .

french drain installation

French Drain Installation

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.
The main downfall of a French Drain is that they, for the most part aren’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 lime stone.  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 drain.
DONT 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.

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