Posts Tagged ‘Surface Drain Installation’

Curb Outlet Installation, French Drain, Surface Drain, Sprinkler Repair Service.

Posted: January 6, 2026 in Curb Outlet Installation, french drain, sprinkler repair
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Curb Outlet Installation, French Drain, Surface Drain, Sprinkler Repair Service.

Curb Outlet Installation. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed Curb Outlets for French Drains and Surface Drains Since 1993.

If you want to tackle this yourself, the following Information will be helpful.

Curb Outlet installation is usually too much “Specialization,” for a “Week-End-Warrior” or your Brother-In-Law to do.

However!

Any Determined Person with Basic Skills can do it.

 

Before you ever build a Drainage System, you need to decide where you are going to take the problem water too.   Most residential Drainage Systems release water farther on down the hill or release it out into the street.  Street release is either over the curb or through the curb.

Curb outlet for French drain

Curb Outlet for French Drain

It is a good idea to do a little research on the effects and liabilities of releasing water at your home.  What does the city think if you release water through the curb vs over the curb?  What does your downhill neighbor think if you are releasing water into his yard?

Some Drainage System Locations have many options for ” Exits.”  Others have very few.

Don’t Start a Drainage System if you don’t have a good place for the water to exit!

This is even more important, if your Drainage System needs to be a “Flood Prevention System.”  We talked about this in the previous blogs on Drainage.

A Flood Prevention System may need more than one exit to increase the Drainage Systems Capacity.

OK, So you have a good Water Exit Strategy and have identified where the water is going to go.

Let’s go back and talk about Pop Up Emitters and Curb Outlets.

A Pop Up emitter is used to release water down a hill or over a curb and into the street.

Pop up emitter next to sidewalk

Popup Emitter to release water from a French Drain in Yukon

 

new curb outlet

Curb outlet with more than 6 inches of fall

 

Pop up emitter and ADS

Pop-Up Emitter before Installation

Water hits the Emitter and fills it until the water pressure lifts the lid and the water drains out.

Good “Fall” or ” Slope“

is necessary for a pop up emitter to work properly.  Many times, a Drainage Pipe does not run downhill enough for a Drainage System to work well. You need “Slope” for your drain to work.   Water may move very slowly and never lift the lid and it just sits there.

We will talk about having the correct amount of “Fall” or “Slope” in a Drainage System in the next blog.

Curb fittings or outlets is the other way to release water.

 

cement curb outlet

Curb Outlet as an Exit Point for a French Drain in Edmond

First off,  For your average DIY Guy.  Installing a Curb outlet may be beyond your skill set or capacity.  If that is the case just place a Pop-Up Emitter up against the curb and go on about your business.

That being said, you may still want or need a Curb Outlet set in concrete.

If you are good with concrete and a concrete saw, this option poses no problem.  If this option seems too much for you, it probably is!  Consider sub-contracting the curb outlet.  In higher populated areas, finding someone to do “Light” concrete work is relatively easy.  You still can save money by installing the rest of the Drainage System yourself.

If you are still going to install the “Curb Outlet,” here are the steps for a “First Timer.”

Installing a Curb fitting Yourself Isn’t Easy

In 34 years of service, Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed over 2000 curb outlets.

If you are comfortable with your Skills using a Concrete Saw and working with a small amount of concrete, you can install your own curb fitting.

Step 1 Find a Curb outlet fitting.  They are round on one side where the drainpipe connects and rectangular on the other to fit in the cut-out area for the Curb outlet.

Curb outlet fitting

Curb outlet fitting

They are sold in many Drainage Supply Businesses.  You may not find them at “Lowes” or ” Home Depot”.  It varies.  If a Specialized Drain Supply business is not available then use a “Heat and Air” Floor vent as your curb outlet.  They are made of metal in most cases but still will work very well.  I have done this many times.  The floor vent is typically wider and thinner than a standard Curb Outlet Fitting.  Just cut a wider hole in the curb.

Step 2 Watch an instructional safety video on using a concrete saw.

Step 3 Rent or buy a concrete saw.  A used one can be found in pawn shops for about 300$ to 600$.  A New one will run around a Thousand Dollars.

a Rental will run about 50$ to 150$ depending on your area.

 

Find a Curb Outlet Fitting

Step 4 Find a Curb outlet that matches the size of your Pipe.  If you have a 4 inch Drain pipe then install a 4 inch curb outlet.   Sometimes a Six inch Curb outlet is too big to install in many roadside curbs.  It is too tall in many cases.  In most situations if you want a curb outlet and have a Six inch Drain Pipe, you must install two 4 inch outlets side by side.

If you have the need for a six inch Drainpipe, that means you have a lot of water to move.  You don’t want to create a bottle neck at the curb by installing a 4 inch curb fitting as your exit on a Six-Inch Drainpipe.

What you need to do is dig a large hole at the curb so you have room to work.  Next you attach a 6 inch “Y” fitting onto your drain pipe above the curb several feet.  You then install Two Reducer Bushings in both outlets of the “Y” fitting.  Next you attach 4 Inch ADS Drainpipe to the outlets and run two 4 inch ADS Drainpipes to the Curb.  Now you install two 4 inch curb fittings side by side.

It is very important

to use ADS Pipe coming out of the 6 Inch “Y” fitting.  It is Flexible and can be easily bent to fit your application.   PVC Pipe is rigid and won’t bend.  Very few people can do this process using PVC.  In 33 Years of installing Drains, I have only done it 3 times using PVC.  It is very Difficult and Frustrating.

Step 5 Watch a Video on Light Concrete Work if available.

Step 6 Connect the curb fitting to the drainpipe and install cement around it.  I have had the most success using a ” Quick Set” concrete that comes in a small bucket and has an “Acrylic” Additive or Base.

I don’t recommend cutting the curb yourself and installing a curb outlet if you are only going to do this once in your life.  If you are or will become a drainage contractor, then this is a skill that you definitely need.

 

 

Sprinkler System Checkup Edmond, Service, Repair

Lots of things can be done to make sure your Sprinkler System is ready to go.  All the Sprinkler Zones should be checked one by one.  The sprinkler heads and valves need to be checked to see if anything needs to be adjusted or replaced.

Sprinkler System Checkup is a Service Provided by Oklahoma Drainage since 1993.

Today we did a sprinkler repair in Norman.  The sprinkler system needed a checkup.

We went through each sprinkler zone and identified several different problems.

Zone 2 had a cracked sprinkler pipe in a flower bed.

A broken Rotor Sprinkler head was found immediately.

Next, zone five look good with no problems.

Zone 6 and 7 each had a couple of pop-up spray heads that were worn out and would not pop-up.  The diagnosis and the repair took less than two hours.  Now their sprinkler system is running great!

Now is a good time to have a Sprinkler System Checkup provided by Oklahoma Drainage.

Sprinkler Systems need to be checked before winter to prevent pipes from freezing.  Sprinkler Design determines whether sprinkler lines need to be bled.  Emergency shut off valves also need to be checked and turned off for the winter.

In the Spring, all the water needs to be turned back on and all sprinkler zones and heads need to be tested.

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.

Sprinkler Valves

Sprinkler Valve Replacement is a service that Oklahoma Drainage has provided Since 1993.  Recently we removed 3 Rainbird Sprinkler Valves and replaced them with new ones.  The valves had been crushed accidentally when a landscaper drove his truck across the yard.

Sprinkler System Check-Up in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore.

 

 

Sprinkler System Check-Up process is very straightforward.  We run through all the Sprinkler Zones one-at-a- time from the controller. 

Sprinkler Controller

Sprinkler controllers can be a problem source.   Many times, the wires in the controller are loose or have a “Short” in one of the wires.  Sprinkler Programming can be a source of frustration.  We can help with Programming your controller.

We check all the sprinkler heads in that zone and the valves as well.

Once the Sprinkler System Checkup is Complete, we provide a Quote for what it will cost to make the needed repairs.

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

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.  405 203 9419

Sprinkler Valve Replacement is a service that Oklahoma Drainage has provided Since 1993.  Recently we removed 3

 

French Drain Installation, Drain Installation, Surface Drains, Channel Drains.

Posted: January 24, 2021 in french drain, French Drain Installation, French Drain Repair
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French Drain Installation is a central focus for Oklahoma Drainage.  We have been installing them since 1993.  Oklahoma Drainage services all of Central and Western Oklahoma

 

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!

Do you have water standing in the WRONG place when it rains?  Is water standing – Up against your fence – On your driveway – In your yard – Or worst of all – Seeping into your House?

Oklahoma Drainage can help!  We will Diagnose the problem and design a DRAINAGE SYSTEM JUST FOR YOU.

 

Recently Oklahoma Drainage Installed a French Drain as part of a Drainage System in Mid-West City Oklahoma.

Our customer had a back porch Sunroom.  Every time he had a hard rain, Water would run in one door and out the other.  An indoor creek across his Sunroom.

Installing A French Drain

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.

 

 

Channel Drain

Installing concrete channel drain

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

Once the 4-inch solid drainpipe 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.

Moving Sprinkler Heads

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 can’t tell that we made any changes to the sprinkler system at all.

french drain pipe in trench
French Drain Trench
French Drain Trench
French Drain Trench
Stepping stone french drain
Stepping Stone French Drain
French Drain Potential
A Good Place For a French Drain

French Drain or Surface Drain, How Do I Decide? DIY French Drain Tips, French Drain Information, Part 3.

Posted: February 10, 2020 in Drain Installation, Drainage System, french drain, Surface Drains
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FRENCH DRAIN OR SURFACE DRAIN?

When Determining what type of Drain you need for your Drainage System.  In our last blog, we talked about Surface Water and Sub-Surface water and why you need to understand them before designing your Drainage System.  If you need to review, click below.  If you have a question or comment please leave it at the bottom of the page. I will respond as quickly as I can.

Previous Blog

Next Blog

Before we get into Water Movement, we need to discuss Surface Drains.

Surface Drains come in many shapes and sizes.  The two most common are Basin Drains and Channel Drains.

A Basin Drain has a Square Grate and it sits on top of a catch basin.  It will have a single pipe connected to it or it will have a drain pipe running into it and a pipe running out of it.  We used this picture in a previous blog, but I want to show it to you again.

Surface Drain Connection

Surface Drain connected to a Transition Pipe

Below is a Basin before the pipe is connected to both sides.  The pipe is cut and connected to one side.   Another piece of Drain Pipe is connected to the other side.  The Drain pipe does not run straight through the basin.  Water must have a way to enter the Drain Pipe.  The Surface Drain in the picture is the most common size used in residential applications.  The Drain Pipe connecting to it is 4 inch ADS Solid Drain Pipe.

For a Surface Drain to work well it must be placed in a low lying area of standing water.  It is not intended to intercept moving water or to drain away Sub-Surface water.

 

In review, detecting Surface Water is straight forward.  You can observe how it flows into the Problem Drainage Area.

Sub-Surface water is not so easy.  You can’t see it move into the problem area.  So What do you do?

First take a look at your soil.  What type of soil do you have?

Soil with a lot of clay will have less Sub-Surface Water, Maybe none at all.  If you do have some it will move into the area slowly.  If you have sandy soil the underground water will move there in a hurry.  Most people will have something in between.

To be sure, a few simple tests can help.

Next check the problem drainage area when there is no water standing in it.  Is it soft and mushy when the surrounding area is more firm?  This is an indication that Sub-Surface Water is still flowing into the area.  Another way to collect information is to dig a small hole about a foot deep in the area. Check it every day for several days.  If water is standing in the hole, you have a Sub-Surface Water issue.  How fast it flows into the hole is also important.

OK, you have Sub-Surface water along with Surface Water in your problem drainage area.  Your Choice for the correct “Intake” for your Drainage System should be a French Drain.

OK, You have no Sub-Surface water. You only have Surface Water flowing into the problem area.  You need a French Drain If you are trying to intercept the water as it comes into the area.  Many times water will run around the surface drain and still flood the area.  Also the Surface Drain is much more easily overwhelmed and water will run past it that way too.  Again, this is very important,  If you are trying to intercept water before it gets to where its going, don’t use a Surface Drain.

A Surface Drain should be used in a Medium to Low Volume Water situation.  The water needs to be stationary or moving very slowly.  It should be placed in an area that is the lowest point in the Problem Drainage area.  They also work well in smaller confined areas such as pool decks, along sidewalks, or in flower beds.

More than one Surface Drain can be connected to one drain pipe in a “Daisy Chain” of Drains if you have several low spots in a larger area.

In many cases a small french drain can be installed in almost every place that a Surface Drain might be installed.  People opt for a Surface Drain over a French Drain because they like the way the Surface Drain looks more than the way the French Drain looks.  For some People, Looks are more important than functionality.

Installing concrete channel drain

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

 

Channel Drains are set in concrete or dirt but dirt is not always the best idea.  Setting a channel drain in dirt should only be done when a shallow surface drain is needed and that is the only option.

Channel drain in concrete

Channel drain in concrete

Setting a Surface Drain in Concrete such as a driveway or a Sidewalk is a good application for a Surface Drain.  Many times it is better to install a French Drain in your yard over a Surface Drain.  What ever makes you happy!

French Drains can be made to look very decorative.

decorative french drain

French Drains can be decorated with many types of stone

In conclusions,

French Drains are used for :  1.  Higher water volume situations  2.  Intercepting moving Surface Water  3.  Solving Sub-Surface water problems

Surface Drains are used for: 1.  Smaller water volume situations  2.  Standing Surface Water that has reached its destination   3.  Smaller and more confined areas  4.  Set in concrete such as sidewalks or Driveways

 

Next Blog                 Previous Blog

French Drains, DIY, Surface Water and Sub Surface Water, French Drain, Information, Part 2

Posted: February 9, 2020 in french drain, French Drain Information, French Drain Installation
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FRENCH DRAIN INFORMATION

French Drains and Surface Drains as part of Drainage System

This is a series of blogs that first explains exactly what French Drains and Surface Drains are,  and how they are used in a Drainage System.

Next, I will explain exactly what the benefits and drawbacks are of each type of drain and why you would use one type of drain over another in many different situations.

Last, I will explain the specifics of how to install your own drainage system and how to diagnose exactly what type of system you need in the first place.

At the top and bottom of every blog in this series will be a link  that you can “Click” on to easily move back and forth through the series.  If you have a question or comment, please leave it at the bottom of the page.  I will respond as quickly as I can.

Next Blog                 Previous Blog

French Drains are Perforated Pipe in a Drainage Trench with the dirt removed.  Gravel is then placed surrounding and on top of the French Drain Pipe.  Typically French Drains For Residential and Small business applications have perforated pipe that is 3 Inch, 4 Inch or 6 inch.  The larger the pipe the more water your Drainage System can handle.

I personally believe that ADS French Drain Pipe is very good.  Pvc French Drain pipe is very bad.  I have made a very good living replacing PVc French Drain Pipe with ADS French Drain Pipe.

ADS holds up over time much better.  It has a Neoprene Sock around the perforated pipe that keeps dirt from clogging the drain pipe over time.  PVc French Drain Pipe becomes brittle and cracks and deteriorates in only a few years.  It will not have a “soc” around either.  If you are not sure which one is which, Ads is Black and Pvc is white.  The choice is yours.

Anyway, Sorry! i’ll step off my soap box.

Limestone covering a French drain

Large 6 Inch French Drain

A French Drain is designed to move a large amount of water in a large area such as a yard, flower bed or on the side of a house.   They are installed in dirt and are covered with some type of crushed stone or gravel.  A trench that a French Drain is going to be installed in looks like this.

A Trench Liner can be installed in the trench as well.   It is cloth that is designed to go in the empty trench before the Perforated Pipe and the Gravel is installed.  The Trench liner can be found at most retail drainage outlets.  If you can’t find any, ” Weed Matt” in the garden section that goes in flower beds works very well.

A trench liner will increase the cost of a French Drain.  Many times they are not necessary.  Sometimes they are very necessary.

A Trench Liner will maintain the integrity of the Drainage Trench over time.  But, If you have a “Sub Surface Water Problem they may impede how well your French Drain Works.

Don’t worry, It will make more sense as you read this blog and ones that follow.

A completed French Drain looks like this.

river rock french drain

French Drain covered with River Rock.

Moving a large volume of water is not the only reason to install a French Drain.

When Diagnosing a Drainage Problem, the first thing to consider is how does the water get into the Problem Drainage Area.  The most obvious way is by flowing over the top of the ground.  This is called “Surface Water.”  Water comes from somewhere else by flowing over the ground.

I know that’s overly simple but right now its necessary.

French Drains do a Great Job in moving Surface Water away from the flooded area.  For example, the water flows out of my neighbors yard, down the hill and into mine.  It then runs into my French Drain, Then into the drain pipe, it then moves through the drain pipe to the exit point at the curb outlet  and into the street.

( Simple Enough)  Ahh, but there is more!

The thing that people miss, don’t anticipate, and don’t understand, is “Sub-Surface Water.”  Sub-surface water is not accounted for many times, in the design of a Drainage System.

OK, Think about the example above again, only this time the water is flowing underground as well as over the surface.  So, in fact, you have at least two sources of water feeding your Drainage Problem Area.

Why is that important?

Surface Drains are not designed to move “Sub-Surface Water.”  Just as the name says, Surface Drains move Surface Water.

Many times a Surface Drain is installed out in a yard to solve a drainage problem instead of a French Drain.

Surface Drain Connection

Surface Drain connected to a Transition Pipe

Don’t get me wrong, Surface Drains are great!  I have installed literally thousands of them since 1993.  They do an awesome job when they are installed for the right reasons.  Problem is they do absolutely nothing to drain “Sub Surface Water”.  In later blogs we will discuss the correct application of a Surface Drain.

Back to the French Drain.  A French Drain can take in water topically. ( In the top of the drain) It also can take water in Laterally. ( Through the Sides underground)

So you must determine before installing a Drainage System,  how the water gets into the problem drainage area.

Is it Surface Water?  Sub-Surface water? Or Both?  Our next blog will discuss this.

Next Blog

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Oklahoma City French Drain Installation, French Drain Repair, Surface Drain, Sump Pump,

Posted: January 19, 2020 in french drain, French Drain Repair
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IF YOU NEED WATER DRAINED AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS CALL OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE – 405-203 9419

We install all types of Drainage Systems and French Drains.

French Drain Installation is a primary focus for us.

A French Drain Can Handle Standing Water

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 repaired or overhauled many French drains and 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.

French Drain Installed in Lawton

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has over 26 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.

Surface Drain installed in Oklahoma City

Surface Drain installed in Oklahoma City

 

Our Drainage Systems utilize:

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

Surface Drains, 4 inch, 6 inch, and 12 inch

Channel Drains, 2 inch, and 4 inch

Sump Pumps 3/4 horse to two horse

Servicing Central Oklahoma including Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Newcastle, Midwest City, Del City, Moore, Blanchard, Choctaw, and all surrounding areas.

Connecting Gutter into French Drain

Connecting Gutter into French Drain

 

French Drains can be installed by themselves, or as part of a Drainage System that uses other French Drains, Surface Drains, or other Drain combinations.  Typically, a French Drain is used to protect a broad area that has a lot of standing water.  A French Drain might run alongside a home’s foundation, or beside a driveway, or on any Drainage Project where Sub-Surface water is the primary problem.  If water is running toward your home underground (through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution for draining away water flowing underground.

 

 

 

If you live in Oklahoma City and need a French Drain installed in your yard, or along your driveway, or near your foundation, give us a call.  If you live in Edmond or Norman and need a Surface Drain installed in the concrete in your sidewalk or driveway, we can help.  If you live in Mustang or Yukon and would like to protect your trees or flower beds from standing water with a French Drain, we specialize in just that!