Posts Tagged ‘Yukon Oklahoma French Drain’

French Drain Estimate Norman, Oklahoma City,

 

Do You Have A Water Problem? Is Water Leaking Into Your Home or Business? Is It Standing On Your Driveway Or In Your Yard?

IF YOU NEED WATER DRAINED AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS CALL OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE   405-203 9419

 Just Send a Text If You Like!

I am Happy to Answer Questions As Best I Can With No Cost Or Obligation

My Name is Blane Callen.  I Have Been Solving Water Problems For All Of Central And Western Oklahoma Since 1993.

Oklahoma Drainage

Expert Installation Of:  French Drains, Surface Drains, Drainage Systems, Sump Pumps, Dirt Work and Sod Installation

French Drain—  When Correctly Installed, A French Drain can provide a wide variety of solutions to water problems and can become MAINTENANCE FREE!  I HAVE INSTALLED FRENCH DRAINS AS FAR BACK AS 1993 THAT STILL WORK PERFECTLY.

Many people don’t really know what a French Drain is.  Below is a Drainage System we installed in Guthrie.

This Is Not A French Drain!  This Is A Surface Drain.

 

Surface Drain Connection

Surface Drain connected to a Transition Pipe

This Is Also Not A French Drain.  It Is A Channel Drain.

A French Drain is a Perforated Pipe in the bottom of a trench with gravel on top of the pipe.  The Perforated Pipe has a Cloth Filter around it and there is a Trench Liner inside the Drainage Trench.  Typically, a Drainage Trench is first dug across a low area that has problems with water standing on it.  Once the Drainage Trench is completed and the dirt is removed, a trench liner is put in the trench.  Next a Perforated French Drain Pipe with thousands of small holes in it, is placed in the bottom of the trench on top of the Trench liner.

Once this is done.  Gravel is placed on top of the pipe filling the trench.

 

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.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French DrainsSurface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.

Providing Expert Sprinkler RepairBroken Sprinkler Pipes Sprinkler Head AdjustmentSprinkler Valve Replacement

We provide Service for Folks in: Norman, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Moore.

Central and Western Oklahoma is our Service Area since 1993.  

                                                           (405) 203-9419

 

The gravel area that you see above is called the “Induction Area.  It is connected to a solid drain pipe which is called the “Transition.”

Completed French Drain Induction Area.

The Transition Pipe takes the water to the Exit Point.

new curb outlet

Transition Pipe Taking Water to the Exit

Recently Oklahoma Drainage  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.

French Drain protects sidewalk

French Drain keeps water off of sidewalk

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.

French Drain Near Driveway

French Drain Protecting Driveway

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 drainpipe 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.

Here is the completed Decorative French Drain

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 cant tell that we made any changes to the sprinkler system at all.

Edmond Oklahoma French Drain Installation

Edmond Oklahoma French Drain Installation is a Central focus for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair.  Over 1200 customers in Edmond have been helped since 1993.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair -Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma.  

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 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!

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

You Might Need a French Drain

If you have water standing in your flowerbed we can install a French Drain For you.  If water is standing on your driveway or sidewalk a Surface Drain or Channel Drain set in concrete might be what you need.  If water is standing in your basement a Sump Pump installation is a good idea.

Drain Pipe for French Drain running under sidewalk

French Drain Installation is a primary focus for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair.  We have been installing French Drains as part of Drainage Systems since 1993.   We also install Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps to fit our customer’s needs.

Three Parts of a Drainage System

A Drainage System is made up of three parts.  An Intake, a transition, and Exit.

An intake is a Drain or a group of Drains that brings water into the Drainage System.  It can be a French Drain, Surface Drains, Channel Drain, or Sump Pump.  A Drainage System can have one intake or several.  If more than one, it can be any combination of French Drains, Surface Drains, Etc.

For Example: You might have a Surface Drain set in your sidewalk and a Channel Drain next to your driveway and a French Drain in your yard.  They all connect to each other through drainpipe and feed water into the Drainage System.

The Transition is the Drainpipe that takes the water to the exit point.  It can be a large pipe or small depending on how much water needs to be moved and how fast it needs to drain.  More than one Drainage Exit Point.  This increases the amount of water that the Drainage System can move.

There are other things to take into account and consider as well.

31 Years of Experience

Oklahoma Drainage installs French Drains and Surface Drains in lawns, flower beds and many other places.  We also install Surface Drains and Channel Drains Set in concrete in sidewalks and driveways.  Wherever you need a Drain to help protect your home or property, we are there to help.  Experience Counts, going on 31 years now.

A French Drain Can Handle Surface and Sub-Surface Water

 

Another Storm is headed our way.  It looks like a WET FALL.  Every time it rains, do you have water standing in the wrong place?  Even worse!  Do you have water seeping into your home or business?  If you have water standing in your yard, on your sidewalk, or dripping into your basement, Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can help.  We have been designing Drainage Systems for Homes or Business since 1993.

Channel Drain in Sidewalk

Today we installed a Drain Basin and a Sump Pump in front of a recessed basement door.  Problem solved!  

We can deal with a wide variety of Drainage Problems, specializing in: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, Basing Drains, and Sump Pumps.

WHAT DRAINAGE PROBLEM CAN WE SOLVE FOR YOU?

French Drain Installation is a primary focus for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair .    Our Drainage Systems may utilize: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, and Sump Pumps.  In the past 26 years, we have installed French Drains to keep water away from home and business foundations, Surface Drains to keep water away from sidewalks and driveways, Trench Drains, and French Drains to keep standing water out of flowerbeds and yards, and Sump Pumps to remove water from basements and outdoor low-lying areas.

French Drain with stepping stones

French Drain with stepping stones

 

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 under ground ( through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution  for draining away water flowing under ground.

 

French Drain Information

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!

French Drain Pipe running to curb outlet in Oklahoma City.

French Drain Pipe running to curb outlet in Oklahoma City.

 

 

Drainage System Installation in Norman

Drainage System Installation in Norman

 

Wow! There are lots of places around a home or business where standing water can cause problems.  Dealing with Drainage Problems is what we are good at.  In the last 26 years, Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair  has installed all kinds of drainage systems in a wide variety of places.  We understand that Drainage Problems may be very complex or very simple.  Some situations might require a 6 inch French Drain, Others might need a 12 inch Surface Drain.    We can quickly diagnose a drainage problem and recommend a solution.  Our Drainage Systems utilize many types of Drains and Drain Pipes.  We install: French Drains, Surface DrainsChannel DrainsTrench Drains, and Sump Pumps.  Each of these Drains comes in many types and sizes.

French Drain going under sidewalk and draining through curb

French Drain going under sidewalk and draining through curb

Since 1993, We have solved many Drainage Problems all over Central Oklahoma.

If you live in Norman and need a Surface Drain in your back yard, or if you live in Oklahoma City and could use a French Drain to protect your foundation, or if you live in Edmond and need a Channel Drain installed in your sidewalk, give us a call.

French Drain Service has been provided by Oklahoma Drainage since 1993.  405 203 9419

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR, Provides Expert Sprinkler Repair for:  Sprinkler Valves, Sprinkler Heads, Sprinkler Controllers, and the most common problem, Sprinkler Pipes or Sprinkler Leaks.

Sprinkler Repair Service is provided for: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Blanchard, New Castle, and all surrounding areas.

Oklahoma Drainage – 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!

Before

cutting the driveway for a channel drain

Breaking out the cut concrete

After

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

French Drain Installation, Drainage Systems, Surface Drain, Sump pumps, – Oklahoma Drainage

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 and Sprinkler Repair

has seen and dealt with virtually every possible Drainage and Standing water problem that can occur in or around your home.  With over 2000 Drainage Systems installed since 1993, we have amassed a great deal of experience.  This is help full in seeing underlying problems and secondary issues that may be hard to see at first for the ” Untrained Eye.”  This allows us to get things right the first time.  In this business EXPERIENCE TRULY COUNTS!

clogged French Drain Pipe

French Drain pipe that another contractor installed?

We dug up this French Drain Pipe that was installed incorrectly.  No Trench Liner or Neo-Preen Filter was installed.  We replaced 60 feet of bad French Drain.

French Drain trench liner

This was the New French Drain Pipe that we installed with a trench liner.

 

french drain with limestone

Adding limestone is the next step.

Hiring your brother-in-law

to put in your Drainage System or French Drain is as bad!  Having a landscape company to install a Channel Drain or Sump Pump isn’t much better.  It would be like having your doctor preform brain surgery on your child.  He could do it but do you really want him to with his lack of experience and training?

 

swampy area

Is this your yard?

 

flooded area

This is a great place for a French Drain

new curb outlet

Curb outlet with more than 6 inches of fall

 

Oklahoma Drainage 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, with 30 years of experience. 

 

Just what is a “French Drain?” Many times, people incorrectly use the term.

 

A basic French Drain

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 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 Drainpipe.

 

muddy french drain installation

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.  Some times 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

Setting in the Channel Drain in the cut.

 

Installing concrete channel drain

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

 

Liner and French dran

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 Drain Pipe.  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.

 

The French Drain Pipe 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.

colored gravel french drain

French Drain with colored gravel.’

 

FD River roc

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.

Drain Basin Connected into a French Drain and Several Gutters

Drain Basin Connected into a French Drain and Several Gutters

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 Drain Pipe 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 Storm-Water 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.

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 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 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.

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

Channel Drain

 

Drain Pipe running to street from French Drain

Drainpipe running to street from French Drain

 

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 Sprinkler 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 considering that there were 18 zones and 5 to 10 Sprinkler Heads in Each Zone.

 

First we looked to see if each Sprinkler Head was functioning correctly.  Many of the heads were leaking at the base. Other Sprinkler Heads were not spraying correctly and needed to have their Sprinkler Nozzles Replaced.  Some of the Sprinklers were just worn out and needed to be replaced.

 

As we went through the Sprinkler System, we placed a flag by each head that needed some type or Sprinkler Repair or Replacement.  Along the way we also checked Sprinkler Coverage.  Some Sprinkler Heads needed to be moved because some areas were either too dry or too wet.  Several Sprinkler Heads needed to be moved.

 

 

Before the end of the day, we replaced 12 Sprinkler Heads, Changed Out 35 Sprinkler Nozzles, and moved 11 sprinkler heads to new locations.

Norman Sprinkler Repair 

Recently we had a customer in Norman who had some trouble with a sprinkler head that was leaking at the base.  There was mulch all around the sprinkler head and when the system ran it blew mulch all over the sidewalk.  This is a typical Sprinkler Repair and occurs quite often.  It took us about 15 minutes to fix.  We also moved several Sprinkler Heads that weren’t in the best places.  Moving sprinkler heads is a common practice for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair.

 

Sprinkler Repair is an ongoing issue for any sprinkler system.

Moving sprinkler valves also is a service that we provide.  It takes a lot more expertise and experience to move sprinkler valves.  There are many reasons that sprinkler valves and sprinkler heads may need to me moved.  Driveways can be added or new landscaping may be installed.  We can redesign any residential sprinkler system Moving Sprinkler Valves, Sprinkler Heads, Sprinkler Pipes, and Sprinkler Wiring is what it takes.

Just like a home or a car, a Sprinkler System requires repair or adjustment from time to time.  We at Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair, take great pride in the Sprinkler Repair Services that we provide.  In almost 27 years of service, we have solved virtually every Sprinkler Repair Problem possible

We solve Sprinkler Repair Problems that other companies can’t handle.  If you live in Oklahoma City and have Broken Sprinkler Heads, or if you live in Norman and have Leaking Sprinkler Valves, or if you live in Edmond and your Sprinkler Controller quit working, give us a call or send us an

Lawn Sprinkler Repair is one of our business focuses.   We can help with:

1. Sprinkler Controller Problems

2. Leaking Back-Flow Valves

3. Leaking Sprinkler Pipes

4.  Shorted or disconnected valve wires

5. Sprinkler Zones or Sprinkler Stations that won’t work

6. Broken Sprinkler Heads

The above are the most common problems that we deal with.

 

Edmond Sprinkler Repair

 

Sprinkler System Repair — Broken Sprinkler Heads — Sprinkler Controllers — Sprinkler Valves — All Brands

Servicing:  Oklahoma City — Norman — Moore — Edmond — Mustang — Yukon — Midwest City — Del City — Blanchard — Newcastle 

AND ALL CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

Now Servicing Western Oklahoma including Lawton and Altus.

 

Moving a Sprinkler Head

Moving a Sprinkler Head

Fixing Leaking Sprinkler Pipes is a common occurrence for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair.  Most recently we had a service call in Lawton.  We got a call from a lady who had water pouring out from under the edge of her driveway.  After shutting off the water at the back-flow valve, we were able to determine that the leak definitely was coming from the sprinkler system.  A cracked sprinkler pipe was the problem and to make matters worse, the sprinkler pipe ran under the driveway.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair had the solution.  Instead of trying to fix the broken sprinkler pipe, it was a much better idea to replace the entire pipe.  The Sprinkler Repair took about three hours.

Oklahoma City Sprinkler Repair

Recently we helped some folks with their sprinkler controller.  They had a lightning strike melting their sprinkler controller and all the connecting wires. Changing the Sprinkler Controller took a little time, but the larger problem was changing out all the sprinkler wires that ran underground form the controller to the sprinkler valves.  This part took a while and required quite a bit of attention to detail.

SPRINKLER REPAIR IN OKLAHOMA CITY

Sprinkler valve repair

Sprinkler Valve Installation

The sprinkler valve in the picture was replaced by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair. When the Sprinkler Valves were originally installed, they were not put inside a “Valve Box” to protect them. The company that installed them just dumped dirt on them and got paid and left.

The Sprinkler System ran ok for about two years before the sprinkler valves failed. We replaced the valves and added a valve box to protect them so this time the Rain Bird valves should last much longer. If you need help with your sprinkler system, give us a call at 405 203 9419. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has been solving sprinkler problems since 1993.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 405 203 9419

Do you need Sprinkler Repair?

Winter is a time when a lot can go wrong with a Sprinkler System.   Sprinkler Pipes can freeze and break.  Sprinkler heads can crack or bust.  Above Ground Back-Flow Valves can crack or leak even during a warm winter.  Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can help.  Give us a call at:

Sprinkler Controller

Oklahoma City Sprinkler Repair

Sprinkler Controller Trouble Shooting

Having Installed Several Thousand Sprinkler Systems over the past several years, here are the most common mistakes made by homeowners who are not comfortable with their Sprinkler Controller.

Most Sprinkler Controllers have a knob or a digital touch screen.  Either way, the basic functions are the same.

1.  Sometimes some brands of Sprinkler Controllers won’t work because the ” Time and Date,” have not been set correctly.  If you select time/date and the screen is blank with no time or date then you have a problem.

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2.  The most common reason that a Sprinkler Controller

won’t work is because the breaker has been tripped for the electrical plug that the controller is plugged into.  People assume that because the LED screen on the controller has power that the controller is receiving power.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   CONTROLLERLS HAVE BACKUP BATTERIES IN THEM TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAMMING IF YOUR ELECTRICITY GOES OFF.  THE BREAKER CAN BE TRIPPED TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND THE DIGITAL DISPLAY WILL STILL RUN OFF THE BATTERY MAKING IT LOOK LIKE IT HAS POWER WHEN IT DOES NOT.

TEST YOUR OUTLET BY CHECKING YOUR BREAKERS OR PLUGGING SOMETHING INTO THE SOCKET SUCH AS A LIGHT OR A POWER TOOL.

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Another very common mistake

is that people confuse “Start Times,” with “Run Times” on the controller.

A Run Time is how long you program each Sprinkler Zone to run.

(Zone 1  5 minutes, Zone 2 8 minutes, Zone 3 25 minutes and so on.)  You program how long you want each Sprinkler Zone to run.

A Start Time is a time that you set on the controller to start zone one running.  All other zones automatically follow zone one in order lowest to highest.  Zone 2 knows to always follow zone 1 when it is done.  Zone 3 knows to follow Zone 2 and so on.  Let me repeat this.  Start Times are only for zone 1.  Again, a “Start Time,” is a time that you would like your Sprinkler System to come and run through all the zones.

Sprinkler Controllers

have the ability to run more than one start time.  This is to allow your entire Sprinkler System to run more than once in a 24-hour period.  You can have a Start Time of 1 PM.  Zone 1 comes on and runs until its programmed time elapses.  Zone 2 automatically comes on next and runs.  Then zone 3 and so on.  You might have a 2nd Start Time several hours later to start and run your entire system again.  (2nd start time at 8 PM)  The Sprinkler System has had plenty of time to run through all the zones when it started at 1 PM.  At 8 PM the controller turns zone 1 on again and all the zones run their programmed amount of time.

THE MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE

IS THINKING THAT YOU MUST PROGRAM A START TIME FOR EACH ZONE. ( YOU CAN NOT PROGRAM A START TIME FOR ZONE 2,3,4 etc.)  This is also apparent by the fact that most Sprinkler Controllers have a limit of 4 start times but can run more zones than 4.  Most Sprinkler Controllers can run 10 zones or more.

What causes a big problem is a when person programs a Start Time at 1Pm.  Thinking incorrectly that they need to program a Start Time for zone 2.  They enter a second Start Time for 1:15pm, and a third start time for zone 3 at 1:30 PM.  So here is what happens.  Say each zone is programmed to run for 10 minutes each.(Run Time)  Zone 1 comes on and runs at 1 PM.  At 1:10 PM Zone 1 stops and zone 2 comes on.  At 1:15 PM the second start time kicks in and tries to turn on zone 1 again while zone 2 has only been running for five minutes and the other subsequent zones have not run at all.

This is called an “Overlapping Start Time.”  With an Overlapping Start Time, Different brands of controllers do different things.  They are all bad regardless.  Some will run zone one over and over and over causing a flood.  Others will not run at all.

Most people only use or need one Start Time.

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR, Provides Expert Sprinkler Repair for:  Sprinkler Valves, Sprinkler Heads, Sprinkler Controllers, and the most common problem, Sprinkler Pipes or Sprinkler Leaks.

Sprinkler Repair Service is provided for: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Blanchard, New Castle, and all surrounding areas.

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The “Water Budget Feature,

” found on most controllers can cause problems with your Sprinkler Run Times.  Water Budget is a quick way to quickly change all your Run Times for all your zones at once.  Example — Out of the box, your new Sprinkler Controller will be set to 100%.  If you program zone 1 to run 10 minutes and zone 2 to run 15 minutes, then if your water budget is 100% then that is exactly what they will run.  If you change your water budget from 100% to 200% now zone 1 will run 20 minutes and zone 2 will run 30 minutes and any other zone’s run time will run double of what it was programmed at 100%.  This is a great feature until you accidentally change your water budget to 900% and don’t realize it.  (or 5%)

IF YOUR RUN TIMES ARE RUNNING MORE OR LESS THAN WHAT YOU PROGRAMMED THEM FOR THEN CHECK THE WATER BUDGET.

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Some of the older digital Sprinkler Controllers have an “Enter” button.  Any programming you do must be followed by hitting the Enter Button.  If you don’t hit it then programming that you think you keyed in is lost.  This is why the newer controllers don’t have an Enter Button.

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has been solving all types of Sprinkler System Problems since 1993.

We provide:

1.  Sprinkler Valve Problems

2.  Sprinkler Wiring Problems

3.  Sprinkler Controller Problems / Sprinkler Clock Problems

4.  Sprinkler Head Problems

5.  Sprinkler Pipe Problems

6.  Sprinkler Coverage Problems

7.  Sprinkler Redesign Problems for new fences or swimming pools.

 

Many times, sprinkler repair needs arise at inconvenient times. Water lines can break in the middle of the night.  Back-Flow Valves Freeze and break at night too.

Sometimes things go wrong when we are away from our homes as well.  Sprinkler Systems coming on at the scheduled times but not shutting off is common and has several possible causes.  Sprinkler Valves can “stick” open while running from lack of water pressure or is not getting enough electrical current to shut it off from the sprinkler controller, or even a small piece of debris is stuck in the sprinkler valve and won’t allow the sprinkler valve to close.

Do you have water standing in your yard after a hard rain? 

Does your sidewalk become a moat during a thunder-storm?  Is standing water causing your foundation to deteriorate and break down?  Is water seeping into your home and causing mold?

Stormwater runoff can cause many types of problems.  OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR can diagnose your drainage issues and design a Drainage System to fit your specific needs.  We install many types of drains including French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Basin Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, and Sump Pumps.

 

Drainage Systems have several basic parts.

Water Entry

Water Transition

Water Exit

Water entry is the process where water enters the Drainage System.  This done with water entering drainpipe through a French Drain.  Water flows to a low area with a trench.  In the bottom of the trench is a Perforated French Drainpipe with a liner or a soc.  Gravel or crushed limestone fills the trench on top of the French Drainpipe.

Water can also enter a Drainage System through a Surface Drain.  Water flows to a Drainage Basin, falls through the grate and enters the Drainpipe below.

A third way for water to enter is to connect Gutter Down Spouts Directly into a Drainage System.

 

 

Connecting Gutter into French Drain System

Connecting Gutter into French Drain System

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

    Sprinkler Repair for all aspects of Residential Sprinkler Systems

    Emergency Sprinkler Repair Service, AFTER HOURS AND WEEKENDS.

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, Sprinkler Repair, with 32 years of experience. 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Recently installed a Drainage System in Nichols Hills.  The Drainage System was made up of a 4 inch French Drain starting in the back yard.  It ran between the garage and the pool.  Several gutters were connected directly into the French Drain.

From this point, we expanded up to a larger 6 inch Drainpipe to handle the added water into the system from the gutters.  In several places the French Drain had to run through areas where Sprinkler Pipes were in the way.  We had to re-rout all the Sprinkler Pipes and Wires under the French Drain.

French Drain Installed in Yukon

Once the Sprinkler System had been redesigned and the gutters had been connected, we ran the 6-inch Drainpipe from the end of the French Drain, around the house to release through the curb.  We cut the curb and installed a 6 inch curb fitting with acrylic concrete.  A few days later a major thunderstorm poured down on the property.  The French Drain and the Drainage System Worked Perfectly.

A Channel Drain

is a type of Surface Drain and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.  It is long and narrow with a grate on top.

Installing Channel Drain Across Sidewalk in Norman

Installing Channel Drain Across Sidewalk in Norman

 

Drainage System

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 along side a homes 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 under ground ( through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution  for draining away water flowing under ground.

 

 

Water Transition is moving water through Drainpipe to the Exit Point.

Installation of a Drainage System, French Drain, In Norman Oklahoma

Installation of a Drainage System, French Drain, In Norman Oklahoma

Exit points are either Pop-Up Emitters or Curb outlets.

Curb outlet for a French Drain

Curb outlet for a French Drain

WE install French Drains and all types of Drainage Systems in Oklahoma City, Yukon, Edmond, Norman, Moore and Mustang.

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.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.

Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes Sprinkler Head AdjustmentSprinkler Valve Replacement

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

 

 

walk way drain

French Drain across walkway

 

drain under walkway

French Drain under walkway

A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 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 two.

Dirt Removal was Difficult

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.

channel drain driveway

Channel Drain set in Driveway

Double Exit Point

The French Drain had a Double Exit Point.  This means that once water entered the French Drain Pipe, it could run South to the street or it could run North to the alley.  To exit points greatly increases the water capacity for any French Drain.

Along the course of the French Drain, we connected two large gutters directly into the Drain Pipe.

Once in place, the French Drain eliminated all the water that was leaking into the two buildings.

Drainage Problem Solved!

French Drain Installation is a primary focus for Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

Drainage Systems

We install a variety of other types of Drains.  Our Drainage Systems may utilize: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, and Sump Pumps.  In the past 21 years, we have installed French Drains to keep water away from home and business foundations, Surface Drains to keep water away from sidewalks and driveways,  Trench Drains, and French Drains to keep standing water out of flowerbeds and yards, and Sump Pumps to remove water from basements and outdoor low lying areas.

French Drain with stepping stones

French Drain with steppingstones

Water in the Rong place!

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has been diagnosing and solving Drainage Problems since 1993.  Water has the ability to get into places around your home where you really don’t want it to be.  Some drainage problems are easy to solve.  Typically, water enters the problem drainage area one way from one source.  The really tricky drainage problems occur when water enters the problem drainage area from multiple directions and from multiple sources.  Sometimes a secondary water source can’t be seen or identified until the primary water problem source is eliminated.

An example of this occurs when water is running into a problem area in an obvious way over the ground where you can see it.

Simple Enough

A drainage system is installed with a surface drain as the “intake” with drainage pipe running to an exit point.  Initially the water drains away and everything looks great.  The next day water is back and is all around the surface drain, but below the edge and it hasn’t rained at all, so no additional water ran over the surface of the ground to flood the area.  The primary water source was solved, ( The surface water run off ) but the secondary water source was not.  Which was sub-surface water, (ground water) running into the area.  A surface drain can’t drain “ground water.”  A French Drain should have initially been installed instead of a Surface Drain.  French Drains can drain both Surface Water and Ground Water.

 

French Drain with stepping stones

A French Drain Can Handle Standing Water

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Services all of Central Oklahoma including: Norman, Moore, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle, Purcell and Chickasha.

 

 

 

Standing Water

channel drain install

Keep water off your driveway with a channel drain

 Standing water comes from many sources.  It causes damage to  sidewalks, driveways, and foundations not to mention plants, trees, and  grass.  Does the side of your house flood because your neighbor doesn’t  have gutters, or does your sidewalk turn into a moat after a heavy rain,  or worst of all, is water seeping into your foundation and duct work  after a thunderstorm?  Theses are just a few of the Drainage  Problems that Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can help with.  We can design a Drainage  System to fit your specific needs.  We install many types  of Drains  to solve many types of problems.    French  Drains, Surface  Drains, Channel  Drains, Basement  Drains, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, and Sump  Pumps are utilized.

 

 

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

French Drain Used to Protect a Broad Area

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 under ground ( through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution for draining away water flowing under ground.

 

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.  Do you live in Edmond or Norman and need a Surface Drain installed in the concrete in your sidewalk or driveway, we can help.  Mustang or Yukon Residents who would like to protect their trees or flower beds from standing water with a French Drain, we specializes in just that!

 

Hard Rain

Hard rain in Oklahoma is common.  Many homes and businesses have drainage problems. Standing water from storm water runoff can cause damage to grass, trees and shrubs, not to mention foundations, sidewalks and driveways. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can design and install a drainage system that may be complex using several types of drains, or basic using just a French Drain or a Surface Drain.  It depends on the customer’s needs.

We Utilize:  French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, Basement Drains, and Sump Pumps

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

 

 

French Drain Facts, Oklahoma City, Norman, Altus, Moore.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can provide the necessary expertise to handle difficult sprinkler repairs.

We install and Service French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps.

In Business since 1993.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Expert Service for Sprinkler Heads, Valves, Controllers and all other Sprinkler System difficulties.  We service Norman, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, Yukon, Mustang, and Midwest City.

 

Do you have water seeping into your floor vents

after a hard rain?  Is water causing damage to your floors or carpet?

Is water finding a way under your foundation after a thunder storm?

Oklahoma Drainage designs and installs

Drainage Systems that can help stop the damage.

We utilize:  French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps to protect property.  Connecting gutter-downspouts into the Drainage System is always a good idea where possible.

This is a great place for a French Drain

 

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

Too much water is never a good thing!

Oklahoma 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!

We take many things into account

when providing a Drainage Diagnostic for 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 Problems have 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 Drainpipe is necessary to lessen the chance of being overwhelmed by flooding?    This is a tough

consideration.  (Larger Pipe – Larger Cost to Install)

These are just a few of the considerations for any Drainage System Diagnostic.

DSC00490
4 Inch Drainpipe running under sidewalk
DSC00498
Drainage System Installation in Oklahoma City
DSC00499
Drainage System running to exit point on driveway
Gutter connected to Drainage system

Gutter Connected to Drainage System

The Drainage System

shown in the three above pictures consisted of the following:

Three Gutter Downspouts in 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.

This Drainage System had two exit points.  One Pop-Up Emitter was on the edge of the driveway in the front yard.  The other Pop-Up Emitter was installed in the back yard near the property line.  Two exit points allows for a much larger Water Drainage Capacity.  (During Heavy Rains The Drainage System Can Move More Water Faster)

The back yard Exit Pipe then connected to 55 feet of 4-inch French Drain that was installed along the SW corner of the house.  The French Drain provided 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.
Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

Sprinkler Valve Repair Norman.  Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has provided Expert Sprinkler Repair Service for Norman and all of Central and Western Oklahoma.

Sprinkler Valves are very important to any sprinkler system.  Unfortunately, many things can go wrong with a Sprinkler Valve.

Here is a short list:

Sprinkler Valves can Stick Open.  This means that when it’s time for the Sprinkler Zone to stop, it keeps running and won’t stop or shut off.

Sprinkler Valves can leak. This can be from the “PVC Pipe” Connections, or the “Bleed” Screw is loose.

Sprinkler Valve Wiring can short out or come loose.  All of a sudden, the Sprinkler Zone won’t work.

The above list are just the most common problems for 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 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.

First Step

First, we dug up a good working area surrounding the broken Sprinkler Valves.  Next, we cut out the broken valves and crushed PVC pipes.  Finally, PVC pipe was cut and glued with new Sprinkler Valves following the original design and configuration.  In this case the three original sprinkler valves were connected to each other inside one Valve Box.

We aren’t done yet though; two sprinkler wires must be connected to each Valve.  One sprinkler wire is the “Common Ground.”  The other wire is the power wire.  All the sprinkler wiring is connected with water-proof wire connections.

The Common Ground wire and the Individual Power Wires all come from the Sprinkler Controller.  Each Sprinkler Valve has its own power wire coming from the Controller.  All the Sprinkler Valves are Connected to the Same Common Ground Wire.

Before We Finish

Before dirt can be put back around the new valves, testing must be done.  Each valve must be turned on, “one-at-a-time,” at the Controller to ensure good wire connection and functionality.  Also, the Sprinkler Valves must be checked for leaks in the PVC Pipe.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French DrainsSurface DrainsChannel DrainsSump 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

Sometimes things go wrong with sprinkler systems.

 

IF YOU NEED HELP GIVE US A CALL.

OKLAHOMA DRAINAGE AND SPRINKLER REPAIR.  405 203 9419

Recently we installed a French Drain inside the court yard of a rest home in Norman.  We had several interesting challenges to overcome that were not typical for a French Drain Installation.  The court yard was in the center of the home and was a secure area for the patrons.  We had to put down painters tarps to run our wheel barrows over.  We took out 44 loads of dirt and brought in 52 loads of Crushed one inch lime stone for the French Drain.  Each trip was over a hundred yards from the trailer in the parking lot, in the front door, down the hall, making two turns along the way.  Each time we had to be escorted by security.  Needless to say, the installation of this particular drainage system took a while.In the above picture, the French Drain runs along the low area crossing all the areas where water would stand each time it rained.

French Drain in Rest Home Courtyard

When a French Drain is installed, a big mistake that is made by many people is to cover up the gravel with dirt.  This is a big mistake.  Basically it is ” Putting the cork back in the bottle.”  If the French Drain is in full sun and has a type of grass surrounding it that spreads on its own such a ” Tift” or “Bermuda” , Grass will grow over it and the French Drain will eventually disappear.  Grass covering a French Drain is a good thing if it grows across the drain without adding dirt.  The Grass thatch acts a water filter preventing clogging and extending the life of the Drainage System.

When a French Drain is in Full Shade, or the surrounding grass will not spread on its own, such as with Fescue,  other steps must be taken.  One option is to just leave it alone.  If you don’t mind how it looks, it will drain a large amount of water for many years.  Many times a French Drain can be a landscaping focal point.  They can be dressed up with all kinds of Rocks and Stones and Plants.

 

Just what is a French Drain?”  Many times people incorrectly

A French Drain can protect your foundation!

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.

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

Channel Drain

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 about 20% of the time.  Most of the time a liner in not needed.

French Drain March 2011
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.

French Drains Can Look Great!

Oklahoma Drainage –  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!

French Drain Installation In Downtown Oklahoma City

French Drain

A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 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 two.

French Drain Running Through Low Areas

French Drain with stepping stones

WHAT SIZE DRAIN PIPE FOR FRENCH DRAINS?

French Drains can be decorated with many types of stone

French Drains can be decorated with many types of stone

French Drains can utilize  several types and sizes of French Drain Pipe.  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 Drain Pipe are too few.  Also there is no filter or “Soc” around this particular French Drain Pipe.  If it is used in sandy or loose soil the holes will clog and the pipe will fill up with sand.  PVC French Drain Pipe should be avoided.

ADS French Drain Pipe 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 Drain Pipe.  It works very well.

French Drain connected to gutter

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.

Curb Outlet for French Drain

The French Drain had a Double Exit Point.  This means that once water entered the French Drain Pipe, it could run South to the street or it could run North to the alley.  To exit points greatly increases the water capacity for any French Drain.

Along the course of the French Drain, we connected two large gutters directly into the Drain Pipe.

Once in place, the French Drain eliminated all the water that was leaking into the two buildings.

Drainage Problem Solved!

Check out the French Drain installed in Oklahoma City.

French Drain in Oklahoma City

French Drain Installed in Rest Home

French Drain in Oklahoma City

 

French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation
Oklahoma Drainage 405 203 9419 — We provide:
Installing Limestone in trench liner for French Drain

Installing limestone inside trench liner for French drain

    

 

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, with 33 years of experience.

Drainage System Installation in Norman

Tools for Installing a Drainage System

Drainage Systems 

can be made up of one drain or a combination of many drains.  Drainage problems can be very complex.   Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drains all 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 water drain out on to the street.

Simple Drainage System

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 underground) 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 Drain also 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 Drains look 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

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.

Surface Drain Installation in Norman
Surface Drain Installation in Norman 
Don’t let standing water or storm water run-off damage your home!  We can help  Drainage Problems in and around your home or business.  If you have water standing in the wrong place after a hard rain, a Drainage System can be a great solution!

If your sidewalk turns into a moat after a storm, or if your back yard floods from run-off from your neighbor’s roof give us a call.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can quickly diagnose your Drainage Problems and provide a solution.  We incorporate several types of Drains in our Drainage System depending on the Drainage Problem.

French Drain Definition

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 Basin.

Storm-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 Drainpipe to an exit point.

THIS IS NOT A FRENCH DRAIN!

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 DRAINS AS PART OF A DRAINAGE SYSTEM OR BY THEMSELVES

A French Drain can be a part of a Drainage System or can stand alone.  A Drainage System is made up of one or several types of Drains connected in sequence moving downhill toward an exit or release point.  What makes up or determines the recipe of a Drainage System depends on the “Drainage Diagnosis.”  Every Drainage System is unique to some degree.

French Drain Trench Going Under Sidewalk

French Drain Trench Going Under Sidewalk

For Example, A four inch French Drain may run across a hillside, transition to solid 4 inch Solid Drain Pipe while running under a sidewalk, then connecting into a 12 inch Surface Drain in a low spot,  Solid Drain Pipe then could continue to a garage foundation where the Solid Drain Pipe changes back to 4 inch French Drain again and runs along the foundation for say 60 feet.

Complex Drainage System

Next the French Drain changes again to 4-inch Solid Drainpipe and continues under a fence to a Pop-Up Emitter which is the exit point.  This again is just one example of a Drainage System with 2 French Drains and one Surface Drain being the main parts.  This would be considered a “Complex Drainage System.”

A simple Drainage System might be a 6 inch French Drain running along a driveway, turning slightly and changing to 6 inch Solid Drain Pipe and continuing to a Curb Fitting as an Exit Point.

French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

Oklahoma Drainage 405 203 9419 — We provide:

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, with 32 years of experience. 

FRENCH DRAIN DESIGN

French Drain Design must take into account many variables.  One consideration for a French Drain that many times is missed, is the type of soil.  French Drain Design must take into account the type of soil that the French Drain runs through.  If the soil is “Tight or made up of Clay,

The Gravel or Limestone that is used to fill the French Drain trench may be all that is needed to maintain the integrity of the trench over time.   This means that dirt will not mix in with the French Drain Gravel and clog it up over time.

This is not the case however if your soil is sandy or loose.  A Trench Liner should be used to prevent this type of soil from moving into the gravel of the French Drain.  Trench Liners are relatively inexpensive and are not hard to install.  If you are not sure what to do then install the Trench Liner in the French Drain.

Determining the size of the French Drainpipe

can be difficult.  If the French Drain is not very big and has no Gutter Down-Spouts or Surface Drains connected to it then 3 inch or 4-inch French Drainpipe may be used.  If the French Drain is large or has many gutters or Surface Drains connected into it, then you should use 6 Inch French Drainpipe or larger.

French Drain Pipe Installation

French Drainpipe Installation

French Drain Design

is also determined by the Problem Drainage Area.  If water is moving into the Problem Drainage Area underground (Sub-Surface), then installing a French Drain is a “Must!”  French Drains can move Sub-Surface water as well as Surface Water.  Surface Drains can only move Surface Water.  This is why French Drains do such a good job protecting driveways, sidewalks, and foundations.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair install French Drains and Drainage Systems in all of Central Oklahoma including Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, and Midwest City.

Oklahoma Drainage

Surface Drains in Edmond

Surface Drains in Edmond

French Drain Installation —   French Drains are designed to do a lot of things.  If you have an area that has unwanted water standing in it or running across it, a French Drain can be the answer.

A French Drain is a trench that runs across the Drainage Problem Area.  A French Drainpipe is placed in the bottom of the trench.  The French Drain Pipe is perforated with thousands of small holes.  In most cases the Drainpipe has a nylon soc around the pipe to act as a filter for the French Drain.

The French Drain trench is then filled with some type of small rock or stone.  We typically use crushed 1 inch Limestone to cover the French Drain Pipe.  The dirt that was dug out of the trench is taken away or spread out around the French Drain.  The Limestone replaces the dirt and fills the French Drain Trench all the way to the surface.

Oklahoma Drainage 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, with 26 years of experience. 

Oklahoma Drainage Recently installed a Drainage System in Nichols Hills.  The Drainage System was made up of a 4 inch French Drain starting in the back yard.

It ran between the garage and the pool.  Several gutters were connected directly into the French Drain.  From this point, we expanded up to a larger 6 inch Drain pipe to handle the added water into the system from the gutters.  In several places the French Drain had to run through areas where Sprinkler Pipes were in the way.  We had to re-rout all the Sprinkler Pipes and Wires under the French Drain.

Oklahoma Drainage — Installing – French DrainsSurface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

When Installing a French Drain as part of a Drainage System, there are many things to consider.

What is the primary source of water coming into the problem drainage area.

Are there secondary sources of water entering the area.

What are they and how many.

How fast does water enter the area and how often.

What are the potential exit points for the water,  Where do we want to take the water too.  Is there more than one potential exit point to increase drainage capacity.

Does the customer want a Drainage System or a Flood Prevention System and does he understand the difference.

 

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

recently diagnosed a Drainage Problem in South Oklahoma City.  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 Drain Pipe 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 Drainpipe.  In the end, we were able to dig up the pipe and replace it.

 

CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO LIBRARY!

Photos of French Drains

Photos of Surface Drains

Photos of Channel Drains

Photos of Sprinkler Repair

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.

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.

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 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 drain.

Don’t Cover a French Drain with Dirt

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.

 

What is a Drainage System?

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 Drainpipe 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 downhill 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 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.

Diagnosing Drainage Problems

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 Drain or 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 Drainpipe.”  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:

6 inch, 9 inch, and 12 inch Surface Drains

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch Drainpipes

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch French Drains

French Drains move more water than Surface Drains —

French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water

Surface Drains move Surface Water only

Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases

Drainage System

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?)

Installing Drainage Curb Fitting for a French Drain in Norman

Installing Drainage Curb Fitting for a French Drain in Norman

The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into the Street.

A 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 Emitter

is connected to the end of a Drainpipe.  It is downhill from a French Drain or 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.
Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

Drainage System installation and design is a big part of our business.  Does your sidewalk turn into a moat after a hard rain?  Does part of your yard look like a pond after a thunderstorm?  Worst of all, are you experiencing concrete deterioration to your foundation, sidewalk, or driveway.

Oklahoma Drainage

can design a Drainage System to solve your Drainage Problems Our Drainage Systems can be simple or complex.  We utilize, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Basin Drains, Basement Drains, Trench Drains, and Sump Pumps.  Estimates are free!

French Drain as Part of a Drainage System

A French Drain is one part of a Drainage System.  A French Drain can be connected to other types of Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts and then run through Drain Pipe to an Exit point where the water is released.

A Drainage Exit Point is the area where water goes to be released when it comes out of the Drainage System. The two most common exit points for a Drainage System are a Pop-Up Emitter or a Curb Fitting. A Pop-Up Emitter is a Fitting on the end of a Drain Pipe that has a lid that pops up and releases water. When water drainage is complete, the lid shuts back.

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.

Haul away the excess dirt

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 limestone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated French 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.

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.

Drawback of a French Drain

The main downfall 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 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.

French Drain Installation in Oklahoma City, Norman, Yukon, Mustang, Edmond, Lawton

Oklahoma Drainage 405 203 9419 — We provide:

    French Drain Installation, Surface Drain Installation, Drainage System Installation

 

 

A good place for a French Drain

A Channel Drain Across the, soon to be installed driveway would be a good idea too!

FRENCH DRAIN  CONNECTED TO GUTTERS

Many different types of Drains can be hooked together by one Drain Pipe.  The Drain Pipe then running to an Exit Point makes up a Drainage System.  One common type of Drain 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.  This puts the French Drain in close proximity to Gutter Down Spouts.  Rather than have water come off the roof and out the Down Spout and on to the ground below, many times it is much better to tie a Gutter Down Spout Directly into a French Drain or near by Drain Pipe depending on the Drainage System Design.   Connecting The Down Spouts Directly into a French Drain is much  more efficient and causes suction to occur in the French Drain.  Connection of Gutter Down Spouts to a French Drain makes the Drainage System work better.

 

 

Connecting Gutter into French Drain System

Connecting Gutter into French Drain System

 

 

 

One Problem with connecting Gutter Down Spouts into a French Drain is overwhelming the Drainage System with too much water.  Three Gutter Down Spouts is usually OK to connect into a French Drain.  More than 3 Down Spouts can be too many.  The Drainage System Design should also take into account the size of the French Drain and 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 Drain Pipe to a 6 inch French Drain Pipe.  Four inch is the most common size of French Drain Pipe.  If you have more than 3 gutter Down Spouts to connect, you should move up to a 6 inch French Drain Pipe.

Some Drainage Systems are complex and incorporate several types of drains.  Most Drainage Systems , however are basic and require just one type of DrainOklahoma Drainage installs a variety of drains to solve a variety of problems. French Drains, Surface Drains, and Channel Drains are most commonly used.  If you live in Edmond and need a Channel Drain installed across your driveway, or if you live in Norman and need a French Drain in your backyard, or if you live in Oklahoma City and need a Surface drain installed next to your sidewalk, we can help.

Channel Drain Installed by CMG In Yukon

Channel Drain Installed In Yukon

Channel Drains are one kind of Surface Drain that we install in concrete.

Gutter connected straight into 6 inch French Drain System

Gutter connected straight into 6 inch French Drain System

Edmond Oklahoma Drainage Contractor.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 405 203 9419 — We provide:
    French Drain Installation, Surface Drains, Drainage System Installation and Sump Pumps
    Sprinkler Repair for all aspects of Residential Sprinkler Systems

 

If you have water standing in your back yard after a hard rain, or If water stands on your driveway or sidewalk, we can help with all types or Residential Drainage and Standing Water problems.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has over 33 years of Experience Solving all types of Storm Water issues.

We utilize French Drains, Surface Drains and Channel Drains.  Our Drains are installed in Yards, Sidewalks, Driveways and Basements.

 

Some Drainage Systems are complex and incorporate several types of drains.  Most Drainage Systems, however, are basic and require just one type of Drain.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair install a variety of drains to solve a variety of problems. French Drains, Surface Drains, and Channel Drains are most commonly used.

If you live in Edmond and need a Channel Drain installed across your driveway, or if you live in Norman and need a French Drain in your backyard, or if you live in Oklahoma City and need a Surface drain installed next to your sidewalk, we can help.

 

The term, “French Drain” gets thrown around a lot.  Many times, people say they need a “French Drain,” when they mean Surface Drain, or Channel Drain.  It is becoming a Catch-All Phrase that may refer to any type of drain.  French Drains provide specific benefits that are different from Surface Drains.

Just what is a “French Drain?” Many times, people incorrectly use the phrase, “French Drain,” when they mean “Surface Drain” or “Channel Drain.”

 

 

A basic French Drain

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.

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 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 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 Downspouts connected to it.

The main downfall 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 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.

 

 The French Drain Installation we did this week was a little more difficult than normal.  Many times, the route that a Perforated French Drainpipe must travel to its exit point is not very easy from an installation point of view.  French Drains may have to travel through tree roots, (big ones) under sidewalks, through retaining walls, around swing sets or dog kennels or Mom’s Prize Rose Bush.

The 4 inch French Drain we installed this week was in Oklahoma City south of 23rd in an old part of town where all the houses were old 2 or 3 story homes with lots of huge Elm Trees.  The Elm Tree in Question actually was just an old stump that had been topped out but not completely removed.  They left the roots just for us!  The roots were growing into the homes foundation and were right in the way of the path of the French Drain.  Forty feet of solid Elm Roots and 4 chain-saw blades later We were successful in running a new French Drain through a tree stump.  Yuck! “Well you gotta  do what you gotta do!”

 

French Drain with colored river rock

French Drain with colored river rock

A little info

about French Drainpipe and Tree Roots.  Normally tree roots don’t seek out and penetrate French Drainpipe.  Tree roots seek moisture and residual water that may stay inside Solid Drainpipe.

French Drainpipe is perforated.  Water that does not reach the exit point of the French Drain will seep out of the Pipe into the surrounding dirt.  Solid Drainpipe that is used with Surface Drains can be penetrated and eventually clogged by roots if the pipe does not have good slope or “Fall”.  If the solid pipe does not drain well and has residual water, tree roots will seek it out.

Drain Pipe running from French Drain to the street in Oklahoma City

Drainpipe running from French Drain to the street in Oklahoma City

Drainage Systems are designed to protect your home or business from standing water.  Storm-Water Runoff can cause damage in many ways.  Water from your gutters can seep down into your home’s foundation if it has no good way to drain off.  If the temperature then drops below freezing, the water around your foundation can freeze and cause serious damage to the home’s foundation.  Foundation repair can cost more than a Drainage System.

Drainage Systems typically make use of, French Drains, Surface Drains, or Channel Drains.  Depending on the Drainage Problem, A Drainage System may utilize one or several types of DrainsWe might install, for example, A Surface Drain in the middle of a driveway that runs to a gutter that is connected into the drainpipe.

The Drainpipe might continue to a French Drain running parallel to a home’s foundation.  Next the drainpipe might continue to a channel drain cutting across a sidewalk.  The Drainpipe might then reach its exit point running out through a curb fitting installed and cemented through the curb.

Surface Drain

A Surface Drain basically is a basin that has a grate on the top.  A drainpipe is connected to the basin below ground.  The water flows in through the grate and down into the basin.  The water then exits the Basin through the Drainpipe and move toward the exit point of the Drainage System.

Surface Drains are designed to handle water that accumulates in a low area.   These areas should not be too large or broad, and the water that drains into a surface drain should not be moving very fast.  Surface Drains can become overwhelmed if they are placed in an area that must move a large volume of water, quickly.

Selecting the correct drain for the specific drainage problem is a benefit that Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provide through 33 years of experience.