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.
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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
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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
MOLD!
Do you have it?
Problems / Solutions /Costs
How To Control Mold
To help control Mold Growth, you need to understand how it gets there to begin with.. Mold is a fungus. It will appear when a couple of things are present in your crawl space.
1. High Moisture content or humidity level.
2. Organic matter for the Mold to feed on.
High Moisture or Humidity levels are usually caused by water either inside or outside of the crawl space. When the soil becomes saturated and full of water, the moisture and humidity in the crawl space will rise. Putting vents with fans or dehumidifiers in the crawl space may help a little, but the water problem needs to be addressed.
Once the mold finds Organic matter, ie, Joists, Subfloors, Roots that may be in the soil, or even left over building materials, it will be hard to get rid. Not Impossible, but difficult.
Please see the related article for more information on Crawl Space Water Problems. Also ask our service tech when he comes out for an inspection. There is a solution and its not that bad.
MOLD ISSUES
Health Effects –
1. Asthma, asthma triggers, or asthma symptoms (such as episodes or attacks)
2. Upper respiratory tract symptoms
3. Eye symptoms
4. Skin symptoms
5. Allergies or allergic reactions (symptoms not otherwise specified)
6. Wheeze
7. Cough
8. Difficulty breathing, trouble breathing, or shortness of breath
9. Infections (including those affecting people who have chronic lung disease).
10. Adverse effects to the nervous system
11. Fungal colonization or opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals
12. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Some Really Nasty Molds:
Stachybotrys – Black Toxic Mold
We see mold everyday in crawl spaces, basements, on floor joists and walls. Most of the time it is harmless. In other words, non toxic. This non toxic mold still presents health issues and also wood rot problems.
Some people are allergic to mold of any kind, small children, elderly but more often, we hear of the 30 to 55 year old that has allergies. Sneezing, watery eyes, or just a general ill feeling could be from a mold living in your crawl space or basement.
Keeping the crawl space dry is of utmost importance here in the south. Hot and humid weather during the spring, summer and fall, cold damp moist air during the winter allows moisture to build in your crawl space and basement. Once the level is high enough, mold wild begin to feed on the organic material such as wood joists, sill plates and band plates. The cost to repair these things is quite high.
One common mistake we see is calling the white powder on cement blocks mold. Mold can only surrive eating organic material.
The white stains in the block are called efflorescence. Usually cause by high water within the block. This is not a good thing and needs to be address. This is very common with unsealed block and brick. Water soaks into the block and washes out minerals from the concrete.
This problem can often be stopped by installing footer tiles around the inside perimeter of the crawl space and a sump pump to remove the water. Downspout Drain lines are also needed to move the roof water away from the foundation and also cleaning and sealing the block after the system is installed.
Crawl Space Maintenance should be a monthly service!
Don’t forget about us!
Apple Drains – Drainage Contractors – ORLANDO FL (321) 200-0685
See Also
Underground drains work to move water fast away from the foundation. We install underground drain, underground gutter drain, underground drain pipe, crawl space drain, underground pipes, drain tile, sump pump, gutter, downspout drain line, yard drain, french drain, gravel drain, solid pvc pipe, perforated pipe, channel drain, catch basin, drive way drain, side walk drain, basement drain, floor drain, sewer line, kitchen drain, bathroom drain and tub drain. Call us for a free estimate!
Hey! Chuck here with Apple Drains.
Here in North Florida, working on jobs in Orlando this past week and of course Hurricane Matthew decides to come forward.
Everyone has story and I am sure Facebook and Twitter are overwhelmed with posts.
I pray everyone will survive this hurricane and no harm or damage comes all the people in the path of this deadly hurricane.
As for me, Our property and office is just 35 miles from the coast directly across from Matanzas Inlet (St Augustine area fro those of you that don’t know the Florida’s East Coast.) Here the winds are expected to be 80 mph with higher gusts. That’s a lot of wind. Rainfall may exceed 8 inches. So damage will occur! There is no way around it.
I have taken precautionary measures and secured as much as I can. Have plenty of water, fuel and food.. Jobs have been placed on hold until Saturday after the storm passes.
View of Hurricane Matthew
9:45 AM 10-6-16
I will try to post a video during the landfall, and try to show what its like l=inland just 35 miles from the coast.
Again,
Best Of luck to everyone!
Chuck,
Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Don’t forget!! We offer complete Clean Service for after the storm passes.
Drainage –
Tree Removal
Yard Clean Up
and even RV Removal
Apple Drains has a crew available for storm damage, trees down, home repair, roof repair and drainage and flooding. We can help!
The biggest clean up after a hurricane is trees down. Having lived through 3 major hurricanes with calls coming in from all over the state, we know what you need and how to correct it.
We have 24 hour emergency service for trees, roofs and drainage.
Call or use our service sigh up for service.
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Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors
Florida Office In Orlando
Apple Drains Florida Website
(321) 200-0685
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