Most drainage problems in Florida, in areas like Orlando, Melbourne, Daytona, Jacksonville, Ocala, Gainesville and the panhandle come from very level or even below grade yards. During a severe thunderstorm, tropical depression or hurricane, rainfall rates exceed the norm. Water has no place to go. So the yard floods, water enters the house, driveways flood, and the backyard stays wet for days.
A French Drain must have a discharge point that s down hill from the lowest point in the yard. So sometimes (most all the time) a Sump Pump is needed. The Pump is installed in a Sump Basin (pit). It can be 24″ inches deep or more. Now the French Drain and other drains can be discharged (run down hill) to the sump basin. Then a good pump can lift the water up and send it to the street or storm.
Visit our Florida Website for more info on Florida Drainage. Office in Orlando, Serving South Florida, Central Florida, West Coast Florida and North Florida AppleDrains.com/florida |
French Drain Cleaning$277.50 1st line and $50.00 each additional |
Back Yard Sump Pump
A good video reference for DIY
Back yard sump pumps are efficient and affordable. a good 1/3 horsepower pump will move 60 to 89 gallons a minute.. (Think of trash can full of water, The pump will empty the trash can in under a minute.) A Good 1/2 horsepower pump will move 80 to 120 gallons per minute! A Good 1 horsepower sump pump can move 120 to 130 gallons per minute!
Of course you can never beat Mother Nature, but you can help keep the water out.
A French drain (perforated pipe surrounded by 3/4 inch gravel) with a couple catch basins, will collect the water from the yard and send it to the sump basin, then the sump pump can lift it up and send out through a 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch PVC pipe to the street or storm.
How far can it pump?
This is called the HEAD. Most 1/3 horsepower pumps can easily push the water 100 to 150 feet, with a lift of 5 feet. Of course the gallons per minute begin to drop so it might only pump 40 to 50 gallons per minute at 5 foot lift and 100 foot discharge. This is still a trash can full of water every minute! Fast!
Here is another good video reference of a backyard sump pump with French drain. This system moves water fast!
How much does a system cost?
Depending on the length of the french drain, the depth of the French drain and length of the 1 1/2 inch PVC discharge from the pump an average cost to install is just under 2800.00. Yes, its an expense but well worth it to solve the flooding issue and help protect y9our home from water damage, mold, wood root, and termites.
Most homes in Florida are built on a concrete slab, and actually need this system more than homes with crawl space or basements. The concrete slab is very porous. As water pressure builds under the slab, it comes up though the slab at the weakest point (usually at the wall where the 1st course of block has been laid. Once a pathway has been established by the water, it will continue to go there even in lighter rains.
Protect your investment. Install a Sump Pump system with foundation and French drains. Direct the downspout drains away and attach them to the sump basin or if you are lucky enough to have fall (downhill grade away from the house) trench these drain lines to the street.
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Florida Service – (321) 200-0685
Charlotte and Surrounding Areas – (704) 336-9111
Southeast US – (704) 309-8880
Underground drains work to move water away from foundation and home. Channel Drain, French Drain, Yard Drain, Gravel Drain, Curtain Drain, Sump Pump, Sump Basin, Discharge, Pop Up Emitter, PVC Pipe, Drainage Contractor, Home Repair, Landscaping, Weed Control, Drain Tile, Footer Pipe, Foundation Drain, slab home, water damage, wet yard solution
Low spots in the backyard hold water. If there is no gravity or fall away from the area, that water will usually stand and stay there for days. This invites mosquitos and other insects as well as kill the sod, shrubs and eventually you have a big mud mess.
To solve this problem, a French Drain with catch basins leading to a sump pump, or small lift station, is needed. The water is collected by the French Drain and is piped to the sump basin. Then Sump Pump lifts the water up and can send it to the street or storm.
Todays pumps are not only extremely powerful but they are also efficient! They can move anywhere from 40 to 100 gallons a minute.
The systems works like this….
French Drain is perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. This collects subsurface water.
Catch Basins placed in low spots collect the immediate surface water runoff.
When it rains, the water pooling in the is first collected by the catch basins, then the as the ground water rises, the French drain collects the water. All this water is piped to the Sump. The sump pump lifts the water and send it out to the street.
We install French Drain with catch basins everyday! They work great. Even when collecting huge amounts of water. Here is a video showing a recent install. The amount of water collected here comes from 8 yards and the system works!
Backyard Flood? We can help! French Drain installed with catch basins.
A good French drain is perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. This system is used to collect water from low spots in the yard, under the house, in the crawl space, along the exterior footer of the house, under driveways, and under basement floors.
The Gravel and Perforated pipe collect subsurface water. French Drain works best in low spots through the yard or along the footer and foundation of the house.
A good French drain will be at least 20″ inches deep. a base of gravel under the pipe and on top. The holes of the pipe point down into the base of gravel underneath. Watch a video of “How a French drain works“.
Adding catch Basins will make the system work even better. Catch basins collect immediate surface water runoff! In other words, as it rains and water begins to flood, the catch basin will collect the water straight away.
Once the French Drain is installed it will need a place to discharge. The water needs to flow downhill and away from the area, usually to the street or storm drain. A Pop Up Emitter can be used at the end of the line or a curb hole can be drilled for even better discharge.
The discharge pipe from the French drain is solid pipe. Once the water has been collected, we need to keep it and let it flow away from the wet spot.
Sometimes a Sump Pump is needed to left the water up from areas that are too low for gravity flow to the street or storm. Sump Pits and Pumps Work Great! In fact, They work even better than gravity!!
A good sump pump will lift and pump 40 to 60 gallons of water per minute! That’s 2 trash cans full of water every minute being removed when it rains. The pump needs to be at least 1/3 horsepower and sits in proper sump basin at least 24 inch deep.
The discharge pipe from the pump should be 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch PVC.
So how much does a good system cost?
You can expect to pay from 1700 to 4200 for a good system, It really depends on much pipe and gravel need to be installed.
Sign up online for an estimate.
We Know we can Help!
Apple Drains
Orlando FL
321-200-0685
For faster Service please use our Service Sign Up
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Sc
Apple Drains has a complete library of Video How To. Free! Its on YouTube.
We have over 11,000,000 views.
Covers all rainwater drainage problems and solutions. Everything from French Drains and Crawl Space – Basement Waterproofing to Driveway Channel Drains, Catch Basin, Sump Pumps and Sump Basins, How and where to install. Even how to dig, how to tunnel a sidewalk, and connect pipe.
The Most Complete DIY video!
And best of all its FREE!
Apple Drains
Orlando FL
321-200-0685
For faster Service please use our Service Sign Up
Check it out!
17 MILLION VIEWS!
Apple Drains on YouTube, 11,000,000 Views
Don’t forget to Subscribe and get up to date install information
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Charlotte NC
Orlando Florida
TRUSTED & RECOMMENDED
by YOUR NEIGHBORS
Since 1997
Need service?
use our service sign up sheet on the top of the page!
Its the fastest way to get service
We can also travel out of our areas. there is a travel fee but if you want the best, let us know!
VIDEO CONSULTING
via SKYPE
just $50.00 per Session
Schedule online
Use the link at the top of the page
or
Schedule Estimate or Consult Here
Apple Drains
Orlando FL
321-200-0685
For faster Service please use our Service Sign Up
Most drainage problems in Florida, in areas like Orlando, Melbourne, Daytona, Jacksonville, Ocala, Gainesville and the panhandle come from very level or even below grade yards. During a severe thunderstorm, tropical depression or hurricane, rainfall rates exceed the norm. Water has no place to go. So the yard floods, water enters the house, driveways flood, and the backyard stays wet for days.
A French Drain must have a discharge point that s down hill from the lowest point in the yard. So sometimes (most all the time) a Sump Pump is needed. The Pump is installed in a Sump Basin (pit). It can be 24″ inches deep or more. Now the French Drain and other drains can be discharged (run down hill) to the sump basin. Then a good pump can lift the water up and send it to the street or storm.
Back Yard Sump Pump
A good video reference for DIY
Back yard sump pumps are efficient and affordable. a good 1/3 horsepower pump will move 60 to 89 gallons a minute.. (Think of trash can full of water, The pump will empty the trash can in under a minute.) A Good 1/2 horsepower pump will move 80 to 120 gallons per minute! A Good 1 horsepower sump pump can move 120 to 130 gallons per minute!
Of course you can never beat Mother Nature, but you can help keep the water out.
A French drain (perforated pipe surrounded by 3/4 inch gravel) with a couple catch basins, will collect the water from the yard and send it to the sump basin, then the sump pump can lift it up and send out through a 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch PVC pipe to the street or storm.
How far can it pump?
This is called the HEAD. Most 1/3 horsepower pumps can easily push the water 100 to 150 feet, with a lift of 5 feet. Of course the gallons per minute begin to drop so it might only pump 40 to 50 gallons per minute at 5 foot lift and 100 foot discharge. This is still a trash can full of water every minute! Fast!
Here is another good video reference of a backyard sump pump with French drain. This system moves water fast!
How much does a system cost?
Depending on the length of the french drain, the depth of the French drain and length of the 1 1/2 inch PVC discharge from the pump an average cost to install is just under 2800.00. Yes, its an expense but well worth it to solve the flooding issue and help protect y9our home from water damage, mold, wood root, and termites.
Most homes in Florida are built on a concrete slab, and actually need this system more than homes with crawl space or basements. The concrete slab is very porous. As water pressure builds under the slab, it comes up though the slab at the weakest point (usually at the wall where the 1st course of block has been laid. Once a pathway has been established by the water, it will continue to go there even in lighter rains.
Protect your investment. Install a Sump Pump system with foundation and French drains. Direct the downspout drains away and attach them to the sump basin or if you are lucky enough to have fall (downhill grade away from the house) trench these drain lines to the street.
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Florida Service – (321) 200-0685
Charlotte and Surrounding Areas – (704) 336-9111
Southeast US – (704) 309-8880
Underground drains work to move water away from foundation and home. Channel Drain, French Drain, Yard Drain, Gravel Drain, Curtain Drain, Sump Pump, Sump Basin, Discharge, Pop Up Emitter, PVC Pipe, Drainage Contractor, Home Repair, Landscaping, Weed Control, Drain Tile, Footer Pipe, Foundation Drain, slab home, water damage, wet yard solution
French Drain is perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. It collects Subsurface Water. Water rises up through the gravel under the pipe and enters the holes in the pipe and is carried away. A good French Drain System has Catch Basins to help collect immediate surface water run off. These basins are places in low spots through the yard.
The discharge must be downhill away from the area. In Florida or other places with level yards a sump pump is used to lift the water up and pump it out to the street or storm. Its basically like a lift station. Water runs downhill to the sump basin. Attach all the drains in the yard to the basin. A typical sump basin is 24″ deep. This will proved the fall needed to drain your system.
Water is collected in the sump basin and the Sump Pump will lift the water up and pump it away. The discharge of the pump is typically 1 1/2 inch PVC which can be buried just below the sod and can run up hill because the pump is pushing the water.
Parts needed for French Drain (with or with out pump)
4″ to 6″ inch perforated pipe – can be corrugated or thin wall PVC
Gravel – #67 stone or any washed gravel like marble or river rock, just needs to be clean of dirt and sand
4″ to 6″ Solid Pipe for your discharge – Once the water has been collected, keep in in the pipe and discharge to Daylight (downhill away from the area)
Catch Basin – 6×6″ to 12″ x 12″ in size. Place theses in low spots as needed. Connect to the pipe.
Sump Basin and Pump is needed. 24″ Depth Basin with solid lid cover. 1/3 horsepower pump is recommended. 1 1/2 PVC for your discharge
a Pop-Up Emitter or a curb hole or cut at the end of your line.
Labor –
Digging a trench is not that difficult but depending on how far or how much pipe you are putting in, this can be labor intense. Trench with a Ditch Witch or trencher will save lots of labor and is worth the rental.
A trailer or truck to get gravel. (Yes, you can buy gravel by the bag and use your car, but its still heavy)
A wheel barrel to move gravel and soil.
Installation is pretty straight forward. Once the trench is dug out, at least 20″ deep, layout your Geo Fabric into the trench so you can wrap both gravel and pipe with the fabric. Now a small base of gravel is placed in the bottom of trench inside the fabric. The lay your pipe with Holes Pointing Down into the gravel. Next, cover the pipe with gravel and bring to grade if possible. (this will work the best, however you can bring the gravel to a few inches below the sod.)
Notes – Remember – Gravel / perforated pipe collects Subsurface Water)
Once you have the collated the water from the low spots in the yard, now use Solid pipe for you discharge to the street or storm or sump basin. R=try keep a slight downhill run with your trench so water can flow easily away.
Sidewalks –
You can either Tunnel or cut. Cutting concrete is not hard, but you do need a concrete saw and will need to buy some Quikcrete or Sakcrete , a pry bar and trowel to finish the concrete.
Irrigation
Yes it will be in the way. Plan to fix any places you cut the pipe.
Utilities (GAS – ELECTRIC – WATER- CABLE – TELEPHONE)
Always call to get these located BEFORE you dig the number for most states is #811
Its free and its the LAW.
Backfill and clean up
Once the all the pipe is laid, cover and back fill with the soil that has been removed as you dug out the trench. Excess soil needs to be hauled away or moved to other places around the yard. Final Rake up along both sides of the trench. The place your sod if cut of, back on the top.
We suggest you do not tamp down the trench. It will go down very quickly with each rain.
We Install French Drain Everyday
Call for estimate or use our online Service Sign Up
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
www.AppleDrains.com
Trusted & Recommended
by Your Neighbors
(321) 200-0685
Orlando – Tampa – Jacksonville
ONLINE SERVICE SIGN UP
Fastest way to get service
SERVICE SIGN UP
Get The Help you Need to Solve your water problem.
to schedule your estimate.
Wet Yard?
We Can Help!
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Trusted and Recommended
by Your Neighbors
(321) 200-0685
For faster service, please use our
Service Sign Up
its the faster way to get service
This article talks about how and why a french drain works.
You can also watch a video that illustrates how water flows through the gravel and into the perforated pipe.
A French Drain is a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. It is used to collect water from a low spot in the yard. The pipe is usually 4″ Perforated (holes or slotted) and is encased in 3/4 inch washed stone.
Catch basins can be added to this system to help collect immediate water run off. The pipe needs to discharge downhill from the low spot in the yard. OK.. That’s the basics. Now let’s look at a typical problem we find in a back yard or side yard…
Usually when we get a call to give an estimate we find a couple of things almost always.
Its great that your landscaper wanted to try to help, but since it didn’t work and you have called us out, we know the problem is worse than before they tried to fix it. Our congrats to the landscaper, but if you are going to take on this project, Do It Right the First Time!
To make a French Drain work (yard drain) the trench should be deep enough to allow water to flood from the bottom of the trench up through the gravel into the pipe. The way the system works is:
Discharging the water
This is very important and its kind of a No Brainer. Water needs to run downhill. The discharge must be lower that the deepest part of the trench. To make this happen, there must be a down hill run away from the area. Sometimes we have to trench through a hill to get good slope for our system to work. (this is usually the case since the water is getting trapped in the low spot to begin with.
If there is no downhill run away from the area, in other words, if the pipe is running up to discharge, it will not work. So what can be done?
We suggest and recommend installing a sump pump. The yard drain is the same as described above but it discharges into a sump pit where the sump pump lifts the water up and can push it up hill to discharge. The pump we most commonly use is a ZOELLER M 53 (mighty mate). This pump can easy lift the water to ahead (total lifting capacity) of 25′. Its extremely powerful for a small 1/3 of horse power submersible pump. The pit is 24 inches deep which allows for great water collection and allows the pump to easily cycle the water. We install a solid lid on the pit making secure and safe. The pump discharges water through a 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe. (while this sounds small, it works great and is more than enough for most applications) .
Lastly, there needs to be an electrical outlet installed next to the sump pit. This is because extension cords are not to code for a sump pump. They work, but its better to have a GFI Electrical outlet installed.
Ok! So when you are ready to have a True French Drain Installed, Give us a call. We’ll be happy to take a look and write you up a Estimate. Our estimates have drawing with proposed drainage and ALL associated cost.
See Example
We Do Complete Rainwater Drainage!
Tags: AL, apple drains, AR, average cost, back yard, BASEMENT WATERPROOFING, CA, CATCH BASIN, CHANNEL DRAIN, CHARLOTTE, crawl space, CRAWL SPACE WATERPROOFING, drain, drain tile, FL, footer tile, French drain, GA, grade, GRAVEL DRAIN, home inspection, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, NC, NY, OH, OR, PA, ROOF DRAIN, SC, SD, slope, TN, TX, inspection, WA, waterproofing, WI, wood rot, WY, YARD DRAIN
Yard Drain is essential if water standing after heavy rain. We install A Gravel Perforated pipe system that will remove the water from low spot in the yard.
Watch a video of how we do it.
Call us today !
Estimate are free via Skype and in person
321-200-0685
Service Areas
Orlando
Tampa
Jacksonville
St Augustine
Ocala
Gainesville
Ormond Beach
Palm Coast
Daytona
Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, Palm Coast, St Augustine, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, Palatka, Florida, Crawl Space waterproofing, French Drains, Landscaping, Weed Control, Home Repair, Handyman2