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A French Drain moves water from low spots in the yard. The system consist of both perforated pipe surrounded by gravel (or EZ Flow Drain Pipe) and Catch basins. The perforated pipe surrounded by gravel, removes SUBSURFACE WATER and the Catch Basins help remove IMMEDIATE WATER RUNOFF from the ground.
perforated pipe surrounded by gravel – French Drain
Once the water has been collected by the system, it needs a place to go. Gravity drains work great, providing you have downhill run away from the area. However, most homes here in Florida need a Sump Pump. We send all the water collected by the French Drain System to the Sump Basin and the Sump Pump, lifts the water up and sends it out to the street or storm drain.
This system with properly installed Pump, can keep up with the most severe rains. Hurricanes and Northeasters!
Sump Basins Holds The Pump and the Pump lifts the water up and send it out to the street
During the dry season, the water table recedes and leaves pathways for water to travel when it rains hard. The Best Time to install a French drain is January through March, Before the rains begin!
Here at Apple Drains, Drainage Contractors, we have been installing French Drain for over 30 years. We install a great Zoeller M98 Sump Pump to remove water fast! This pump can lift 80 to 120 gallons per minute. That’s lie 3 trash cans full of water every minute!
Zoeller M59, 1/2 hp Sump Pump
During the past (2) Hurricanes, both Matthew and Irma, ALL of our installs kept up with the rain! Not may others can make that statement!
Please use our SERVICE SIGN UP SHEET to schedule an estimate today. We do charge for our time. Estimates are not free. There is a 35.00 charge for us to come out and access, inspect and design a system custom for your specific needs. We Do however, apply that 35.00 to the purchase of any new system we install, so you don’t really loose the cost.
Out of area estimates the fee is 277.50. This is a time and travel cost and YES, we do apply that to any new system we install!
Use our SERVICE SIGN UP SHEET to schedule your estimate today!
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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!
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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.
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Installing a French Drain is a project the homeowner could do themselves. All the parts are readily available from Lowes or Home Depot. Just be prepared to do some work.
Here is everything you need to install a gravel drain (French Drain)
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1st you need the pipe.
These are 100 foot rolls of both Soild and Perforated Pipe. This is from Lowes but Home Depot has the same stuff.
NOTE – Remember you need Perforated Pipe (has holes in it) that will be surrounded by Gravel for a French Drain.
100 foot rolls of perforated pipe at Lowes
2nd will be the gravel –
How Much Gravel Do you Need? A lot!
Best way to figure how many bags is 1 bag will cover about 2′ feet of a trench 14 to 16 inches deep. So if you are installing 60 feet of pipe, you’ll need at least 30 bags.
3rd you will need some way to transport your gravel. While you could put in your car or trunk, better is a truck, or trailer to haul the gravel and pipe and shovels and wheel barrels, etc..
Transporting the gravel for a french drain
4th You need a wheel barrel to move the gravel to the area you are digging. You carry each bag, but each bag weighs 40 lbs. So a wheel barrel allows you to move more than 1 at a timne and is much easier.
Wheel barrels bring the gravel from the trailer to the rear yard where the low spot is
5th – You need shovels, picks, axe, and rake to dig your trench.. Pretty much you will be digging through mud if its a really bad low spot. Water will have saturated the soil. But if you believe you can do something 🙂
Trenched section of yard for French Drain
6 – Once the Trench is complete, including your discharge (this where the water is going to flow), its time to install the Gravel and Pipe.
1st lay a small base of gravel in the trench. Next Install the Perforated Pipe with HOLES POINTING DOWN. Connect your catch basins then cover with gravel. We like to bring ou gravel to grade to really make the water drop into our system, but you cancover the gravel with soil. If doing this, be sure to use a soil seperater fabric. Youdon’t need to wrap the trench in this fabric, it will simply slow the flow of water into the gravel and also the fabric will get packed with dirt and further slow the water infiltration into the gravel. Some people think its best to wrap the gravel and or the pipe, but actually the life of the systemis still the same. 15 to 20 years.
Holes Point Down from Perforated Pipe for the French Drain
Lastly – Lay your all the gravel and pipe, rake out the excess soil to fill other low spots and help water drain into your system. Make sure your Catch Basin Grate is just below grade to allow that water to flow quickly into the catch basin!
Raking out the excess soil from your install of a French Drain
Congratulations! You did it!
This is Chuck with Apple Drains, Reminding You..
If You Believe You Can Do Something, I Guarantee You Can Do It!
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Orlando FL
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Many homes in the Orlando Metro Area have yards that slope or grade towards the house and because the lowest point of the yard is below the street curb, a Sump Pump is sometimes used to lift the water from the low spot and pump it out to the street. This a fairly common practice but the key is to use a GOOD SUMP PUMP. We use only Zoeller Pumps for this installation.
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Zoeller Pump N267
Below is a drawing and photos of a recent install using a Zoeller N267 Sump Pump. The N267 is a 1/2 horsepower pump with a 2″ discharge. The pump is exteremly powerful and can push water 100 plus feet easily. The pump is no little store bought pump. This pump weighs almost 50 lbs and the retail cost is just over 500.00. While it might sound high in cost, we know it will last a lifetiime!
Take a look at the drawing first. You’ll see just how much water we are draining into the sump pump. The garage has a roof area of over 3000 sq feet. The driveway also drains into the sump pit via the catch basins at the side. Even the neighbors yard will drain into the system. All in all, its about 2000 gallons per 1″ rain fall. That is a lot of water!!!
Click The Drawing to enlarge..
Then click again! –
While we know and Always tell our customers, “You can never beat Mother Nature”, we do try to get as much drainage out of a system as possible. Sure, it will rain so hard some day, that the pump cannot keep up, but it will take it out quickly! This system will keep up with huge rainfalls, and you’ll rest peacefully knowing it was done right!
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Digging out the Sump Pit
Remember! Water Runs Down Hill! So it gets deeper as you go. That’s why we have a pump. The lines will be down so deep, that gravity cannot gp to the street. The Pump has to lift the water and then go to the street.
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catch basin collects water from lowest point
Next we are showing the (2) catch basins at the side of the drive. The basins are 12×12 inches. That means 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep. The discharge of these basins runs to the sump pit and they are down about 18″ inches deep. Water from the drive way is collected by these basins and empties into the sump pit where the sump pump lifts it up and pumps it to the street.
Notice there are (3) inlet lines coming into the pit. See drawing above. Catch Basins, Downspouts and Neighbors Yard, all come into this pit. Then The Pump Lifts the water up and out to the street.
To Learn more about Back Yard Sump Systems, please call or email us. We’ll be happy to help!
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Orlando FL
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Want to see some average cost of installation?
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Note: Every Install is different. Depending on the trench, what’s underground such as utilities, and things. So the cost are averages.
Byadmin
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 System.. With French Drain and Catch Baisin
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.
Dig out to install system
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.
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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
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Zoeller M53 1/3 horsepower with 1 1/2 inch or 1 1/4 inch Discharge. $375.00 (Regular $425.00)
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Sump Basin and Sump Pump Installed in crawl space.
Dig out hole for new NDS 24″ depth Sump Basin with Solid Lid cover, Surround basin with gravel for proper drainage, Install new Zoeller M53 1/3 horsepower with 1 1/2 inch discharge. Core (drill 2″ hole through brick or block foundation wall. Plumb 1 1/2 inch PVC from pump to outside for proper drain discharge.
Complete install!
Special Price $1185.00 (Regular $1410.00) Save Big and Help Solve your water problem.
Additional Items you could install in your Crawl Space..
Footer pipe, this is 4″ perforated pipe surrounded by gravel in a trench along the inside perimeter of the crawl space. It helps collect the water as it comes through the foundation wall and flows over to the sump basin where sump pump lifts it up and put through the Core Discharge going through the foundation wall. Footer pipe runs 15 to 20.00 per foot installed. Gravel Perforated pipe systems work the best to move water.
Vapor barrier (moisture barrier) is 6 mil plastic that covers the crawl space floor. We install and pin, cut around piers and corners. It helps keep the moisture out of the floor joist, house and more. It also helps with heating and cooling of your home Vapor barrier runs .60 cents to a 1.00 per foot installed.
Protect your home from water damage, termites, and mold.
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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
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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!
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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.
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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 !
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