How to install French Drain - where to locate - why it works
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2020
- Here is another recent french drain that we installed to solve standing water problems in a back yard. Join us in this video as we see how a french drain works to collect water and deliver it to the street. At the video's end I re-visit the system during a rain storm and there was less water standing during the storm than there was after 4 days of no rain!
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Another great job. The best part is when you go back and show how well the systems are working. Keep the videos coming.
Agree
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Post 10 would approve
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Shawn youre every homeowners HERO.
Lol Thank you!
I have a completely different field of expertise, but I keep watching these videos. I would love to be on-site and see this take place. It’s just so fascinating to me. Of course, I would help where I could. 😊
I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! I will keep making them!
I like that you can’t do all the aspects of the job yourself. Also like the return trips in the rain.
Meant to say I like that Shawn can do all aspects of the job.
👍 Thank you!
Its amazing to see jobs before the concrete buggy. That sucker would have been handy on this job!
yes for sure! I knew I wanted a buggy but I should have bought it way sooner. I'm currently looking (somewhat) for another one.
Your channel helps me a lot... thanks from Brazil... good luck.
Thank you for sharing!
Same thing house on a hill heavy clay soil ,your french drain is at the perfect spot , I like to see the lay out after a heavy rain or videos on a new job to get a good idea of what is going on .
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I sense the need for night vision camera equipment!
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Would you ever consider running a system like this to a dry well? My backyard has negative slope and the only way to the road is a sump pit (or 2) so I’m considering putting in two separate French drain systems that dump the water to dry wells. Thanks for the vids, these seem more “real” than the guys that are more into the marketing business than doing work and educating folks.
A dry well needs to be uphill in a dry area. Think of the amount of water you're sending into the dry well....can it accept it all without overflowing? If not, then it won't work. If you dig down at the bottom of a hill and hit water then a dry well will turn into a spring. Basically, you're trying to give that extra water a place to leave. It has to be a path of least resistance. If you don't have that you'll need to pump.
So many builders don’t understand drainage! Too bad you can’t be there when they start the foundation. 🤔
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You have convinced me to use PVC instead of corrugated, but I think I’m going to have to burrito wrap my French drain with geofab and cover with sod. Don’t like the look or want to deal with the hassle of gravel all in my yard. Besides that awesome!
A simple test is to find some standing water in your yard. Dig down through the standing water. If you hit dry dirt quickly then you have impermeable soil and burying your drain will make it useless. If you continue to hit water then you'd want to wrap and cover back with sod.
Gate City Foundation Drainage yes we have sandy soil here so a covered French drain will be fine! Thank you
@GCFD I agree except that if you cover the pipe back up with 3-4 inches of permeable high quality soil (not the junk you took out) and grass seed or sod, the French drain will work. Even in situations where the water table is lower and there is subsurface water, there is usually also imperable soil which allows surface water to make the problem worse. But your french drain setups with gravel do have the best flow rate even if aesthically polarizing.
Sean,
I have enjoyed watching some of your videos. I have a bunch of solid 4" PVC pipes sitting around and I need to install a French Drain around my house. Can you share with me how I can adapt these pipes. How big do the holes need to be and are they located just at the bottom of the pipes or all around?
Thanks, Rick
We usually drill 1/2" or 5/8" holes at the 5 and 7 o clock positions
"Not much water here" - splash splash. Great job. What were the red flags for? Did someone come out and mark underground wiring / pipes?
Yes we call 811/DigSafe for all projects. Red - Power; Yellow - Gas; Orange - Communication; Blue - Water
Were you able to get down to clay in your trench. I seem to recall this was fairly important in videos that I've seen
Shawn, I'm trying to learn as well! I need a system like this to drain water out of my back yard. I noticed you use PVC, what kind is it, I can't tell where the wholds are that allow your French drain design to collect water and drain it off the property ?
Hi James - See my other FD videos. We use schedule 40 pvc with the holes facing down. It really flows!
I live in Greensboro sand thinking of having drainage work done. Does the city allow you to discharge directly into street? I haven't spoken with anyone yet but couldn't find info regarding storm water discharge. Thanks and awesome work!
Yes the streets are part of the stormwater drainage system. The drainage basins all say "don't dumnp Drains to creek"
Is this what you would call a “high-flow” French drain since there is just gravel and no filter paper and not re-covering with sod/soil and grass?
How deep do you usually dig the trench for the French drain? Also, how high is the gravel/rock under the perforated pipe?
We do a couple inches of gravel under the pipe and the trench needs to be deep enough to hit dry dirt under the standing water you are trying to drain. Also it needs to be shallow enough to maintain your fall away from the FD.
I just bought a house that has serious drainage issues. It's basically slightly raised up in the bottom of a bowl, so whenever there's rain, the place is surrounded by standing water. I haven't been able to mow the grass for going on three weeks now, because there's just too much standing water. I think my summer project is going to get the gutters out to the drainage ditches on each side of the property and then worry about the low spots. Right now, I have an unusable yard.
If the drainage ditch is lower than your yard you're in good shape. Otherwise sump pumps can work very well for dewatering the area.
@@GCFD the ditches are lower, but I don't think they're graded properly. the edges of the ditches are higher than the yard, which is a problem, but I can knock those down, and I plan to. I may need to rent a ditch witch to make the ditches flow. One problem at a time though. First thing is to get the water away from the house, then drain the yard, then get the water out to county's main drain lines.
you don't have problems with the drains getting root bound when you install it without weed fabric?
No problems yet. I suspect it's because the smooth pipes don't hold water, which is what the roots are going for.
I wished you guys were close to Charlotte. Do you have a consultation service?
I've done a few, but it's so hard to see accurately what's going on from pictures or video.
Hi Sean. Do you have to worry about frost? If so, to what depth?
We don't really have to worry about frost here in NC. The frost like is like 0.5" here.
Very nice work. My problem is not having a downward elevation so the water can run. With heavy rain my backyard becomes the overflow from my back neighbor’s property. I have a very flat backyard that my back patio is underwater during heavy rain. I’ve dug some small trenches so the water can run out but my property is pretty flat. I’ve thought of a French drain in my backyard but it won’t have any downward elevation to get it to the street. My rain gutters in the back part of the roof send the water to the front yard to minimize the water in the backyard. The gutters run the full length along the house back to front with downward elevation which gives the water a good run. I don’t know what I can do to solve my backyard flooding problem.
You may have to install some sump basins and pumps if your land is super flat.
Hello, what is the fabric you use for french drain? Could you please shoot the link here?😊 highly appreciated.
Can you cover the stones with top layer of grass? Or is that going to plug up the French drain?
it will clog up the FD and stop water from flowing into it.
@@GCFD i thought that's what fabric is for. Kinda looks weird to have a big gravel path like that in the middle of the lawn.
@@joej.4170 it absolutely looks weird. But these are situations that require results over looks. Keep I mind the final word inspection occurred during the pouring rain and there was no water standing around.
Why didn't you use geo fabric and plant grass back over the drain? Just goin to leave the gravel, I guess?
I am having a little trouble understanding the types of PVC pipes used and where they are installed. Are you using 4" or 6" PVC? Also, where is "perforated" vs. solid employed? How deep/wide a trench is being dug out? I live in Atlanta and when I check HD or Lowe's I am not able to find "Schedule 10" PVC pipe, only "Schedule 40". Any help would be appreciated!
He uses mostly 4" schedule 40. He lets you know when he uses 6". Solid pipes have no holes, it's a closed system. After water enters, it goes directly to the end. Perforated PVC pipes have 1/2" holes along the length of the pipe and are used for french drains. Congregated pipe is the rolled up black pipe which he doesn't use or like. Comes in both solid and perforated. Perforated has slots cut, not holes. I don't believe perforated is available in schedule 40, you have to drill your own holes.
Home Depot and Lowe's should have what he calls "thin wall". It's thinner than schedule 40, therefore not as strong. Should come in both solid and perforated. It's drainage or sewer pipe. Schedule 40 is much higher in price, but there are fittings available easier to find.
I hope this helps. Watch his videos to understand where to use solid and perforated pipes.
@@joeshmoe7789 - Thanks Joe! I appreciate the response and clarity of your answer.
Take care and stay safe!
When do you use geotextile fabric in French drains?
If there is subsurface water present.
Awesome work but I’m so confused. Do you guys just leave those huge patches of gravel exposed like that? Is there a way to make all that look aesthetically pleasing to the eye? Or do you let pro landscapers handle the final touches? Just looks very utilitarian and raw so to speak
It is utilitarian Andy. These systems are for the worst flooding cases. Homeowners have placed pavers, decorative stone, boulders, or used the gravel as a path or edge to improve looks. We leave the FD open so the flow of water is unimpeded into the drain. We would never bury a drain in dirt.
@@GCFD got it!
@@GCFD Think I will incorporate a gravel footpath with the french drain. Nice and simple. Awesome
@@CherylCold or you could just wrap the aggregate in geofabric and bury it and out whatever you want on top.
@@GCFD Over the years, will dirt and debris gather on top of the gravel and eventually sink into it, negatively impacting it's ability to absorb and direct the water? My son bought a house that appears to have an old french drain that appears to now be a mix of gravel and dirt.
Sir, does your French drainpipe have holes in the bottom?
Yes the holes face down because that's where the water floods up from.
Can the gravel be covered up by sod or is that a problem with function?
Burying the drain destroys its ability to accept water, so yes it destroys the function. It looks a lot better though!
@@GCFD How would you adapt an area that is waterlogged to be suitable for taking a lawn without having surface gravel features?
@@GCFD If the concern is surface water, I'd agree. If; however, you are trying to control ground water and stop it from saturating the ground, I don't see how burying the system would be a problem, no? Just have to make sure to properly employ barrier cloth. Great work, by the way. Just found your channel, a few years after managing my own drainage issues. You would have been a great help.
Were is the holes on the pipe at the top middle bottom sorry i just cant see them .. love your work 👌
The holes face downward because as the trench fills up with water that’s where the water first reaches the pipe.
@@GCFD thats great thanks for reply really like your channel from ireland 🇮🇪👌
Did you use the trencher to backfill??
Yes. The toro comes with a backfill blade as an accessory.
How come you don't use the non-woven fabric between the dirt/soil and the gravel? Your style appears slightly different than the French Drain Man.
Yes, I don't do things the way he does because we are in NC and our native soils are impermeable. We're collecting mostly surface water or light subsurface water. When we dig down under standing water we hit dry dirt.
@@GCFD makes sense for different geology...of course chuck Apple drains has his methods also for Florida!
How do you keep dirt from coming into the pipe?
Is there a specific reason you don’t use non-woven geo-textile fabric to surround the aggregate and the perforated pipe? I’ve seen other guys use it, saying that it keeps the dirt from clogging the rocks and helping with longevity. I’m asking this question to learn, not to be a rhetorical prick. Thanks.
Yes, I use 24” of gravel instead of fabric. My reasoning is a layer of fabric will clog up long before 12” of gravel will so I avoid fabric. I also take the gravel to the surface and do not place dirt on top. This keeps the gravel as open as possible for water to flow into the French drain and away. It is critical to use angular gravel as it interlocks and doesn’t move. Rounded river rock is not appropriate for a French drain because it does not lock together and moves around, letting sediment move in.
Yes it’s prevents dirt clogging up the pipe but I would of thought the dirt will clog up the fabric in short time severely restricting the flow. Any time filters are used in other applications they need replacing annually like air, pollen ,oil filters etc in cars, why would the fabric in a French drain be any different. Shawn’s theory of using tons of angular gravel and preserving the flow makes more sense than 1mm of fabric slowing a system right down. Maybe in situations where flooding isn’t that bad the system with fabric would be ok but its kind of defeating the purpose of installing the french drain in the first place.
I see the water going to street but the yard is still very wet ? Why isn't it sleeping down to the pipe from back of house to street or did you just run solid Pvc from back to the street or is it perforated . If perforated how come water not hung through the long pipes instead if water staying on top of grass area on side of house
The perforated pipe is in the french drain and solid to the street. This system has help water out from under the deck and crawl space.
@@GCFD ok but why not keep it perforated to the street. I mean you dug trench . So side if house is just solid pipe then. Why ? Save cost on rock or perforated pipe. If I dud that work I'd out rock and perforated all way to street . Yes you saved some back pain with trencher. But still. Plus neighbors water coming down in yard to . I'd put catch basins there and maybe couple in between your solid pipe to get some of that water in there. Plus gives you clean out spots for maintenance with camera or just hose to clean with. Just a thought . Still the pipe with holes on bottom I would've used since you had trencher . A d either wrapped it with screening or just played in rocks
The perforated pipe is what collects the non-point water. We placed the FD in the path of the water and once collected, we keep that water in a pipe until it daylights to a safe place. So we wouldn't ever take water that's already contained in a pipe, into a perforated pipe. This application is for leach fields where there is no debris and a very very low flow. Great question!
@@GCFD I didnt say take water that's contained a d your in perforated pipe . I'm saying I'd have all perforated pipe all the way to street it will still flow fine and if water is that bad put a sump it then attach to solid pipe to street . If you aren't gonna care about any other water like from neighbors house coming over or water tgars puddling on side of house why do the job . You trenched it up so put couple catch basins in low spots where there us water on way out to the street in with the solid pipe or the perforated pipe the basins will help you get even more water off the surface going out to street. So catch basins or perforated pipe all way to street with gravel or buy the peanut pipe and lay that in there so less rock . I'm just saying if you gonna dig all that up do it right the first time . If you only doing water in back then ok but your still gonna have neighbors water and water on side if house pooling up too. That's why I said two or three catch basins and connect to solid pipe or perforated . I wouldn't want to have water better in back but still be splashing through water walking from back to front of house or vice versa .
was that a TV cable that got dug up at 2:56?
Yep most likely. There was no service at the house so it was old stuff.
The concrete buggy would have been handy there.
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I’m new here where you located east coast
Hey Beverly - We're in Greensboro NC
If I was that customer, I would have had you connect that other downspout towards the front into it since the piping went right by it in the first place. It would have only been a short distance more and have even more water removed from the equation.
Good call Kevin! This was part of a real estate closing so they were very concerned with cost. I mentioned it but they didn't want to do it. I also wanted to extend the FD around the entire back of the property.
@@GCFD the new owners of the house will see the water buildup on the other side and call you back to extend it like you recommended to the sellers! I understand the sellers desire to keep costs low. Under the circumstances, what was done is a good compromise for the immediate need. I love your channel/content. Thank you (from the Pacific Northwest) for sharing your videos!
After watching a few of these videos I don't understand why the builders don't install land drainage as part of the build?
it seems they do the minimum or perhaps don't understand the drainage part. I also find it's something the neighbors uphill have done - taken out a tree, built an addition, or landscaped that changes the way water flows. Homeowners often tell me their drainage problems have just popped up recently after something changed.
@@GCFD I'd say the local building authority should enforce a stricter code. But that would put you out of a job.
In the UK all water off roofs is either fed directly in to the storm water sewer system or goes in to a soak away. You don't see it fed directly on to the garden.
Surprised they didn't have you put either a gravel-filled swale or second French drain between properties to catch the neighbor's runoff before it had a chance to add to the homeowner's existing drainage problems.
That would have been a good thing. Catching the neighbor's downspout would have been good too. This was part of an inspection for a house sale so I kinda had a low budget with this. Everyone was impressed with the system though!
@@GCFD can only work with what you're given. Great job for the circumstances.
Why not perforated under drain pipe?
Because I like to keep water that's in a pipe, in a pipe and take it to a place where it's gone for good.
What is a rough estimate for a job like that?
It depends on the current price of PVC.
@@GCFD I understand that. Material cost and availability is something else right now. I have had a deck on hold for a year now and it just keeps getting worse.
What do you do if the owner doesn't want exposed gravel in their yard?
I pass on the job. Homeowners have added pavers or flagstone to the gravel, or topped with more decorative gravel. Most of my customers are experiencing major flooding and are more interested in saving their houses.
@@GCFD I see. Was wondering if you could just put a layer of sod over the gravel so that gravel doesn't disperse over the yard.
@@garyh4458 you could do sod but that dirt is going to tend to fall into the gravel over time.
@J Hemphill Why? Football fields have drainage built in but you don't see gravel strips across them do you? There are alternatives to exposed gravel so I wanted to know what the options are. If this guy doesn't know what the options are and his only solution is to make your yard look stupid then HE is the fly-by-night business and not a pro.
Why do you lay your pvc pipe backwards?
I didn’t know that was possible?
@@GCFD Probably not as important with a glued pipe but the expanded end should be uphill for clay or concrete.
why do you use hay all the time? why not grass seed?
We seed+ straw
Why don't you lay dirt over the gravel?
Because water doesn't flow through dirt. That would make the drain pointless.
@@GCFD if it's standing water wouldn't it make it's way through the soil eventually? Not trying to argue your work is great. If it's water that is flowing that you are trying to catch then I understand.
how much does a project cost?
3 people for 1 day.. 2K
@@rakjy5628 OK .thanks
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Sure could of used a toro mud buggy for this site
For sure!
That won’t last long without wrapping the stone in no woven fabric. The soil will mix with the stone and block the water from entering the pipe. You could see mud in the pipe already in the initial part of the video.
I'm not seeing what you are stating. Using a large volume of angular gravel as a filter preserves the high flow into the pipe. Any fine sediments quickly get rinsed through the system instead of clogging against a thin layer of fabric.
You’ve been watching too many bad videos. Filter fabric will clog up. If you’re not convinced, name me a filter that doesn’t need to be replaced…
@@electricaf365 You ever seen gravel packed with dirt? At that point it is no different than the "non permeable" surrounding soil.
Please develop a letter that will inform real estate agents on what you do and direct them to watch a couple ofselect video's to start their education. Tell them you can work with sellers or buyers. Tell them you can give them free quotes to solve the water problems. Let them know you can work with buyers or sellers. Go around to real estate offices and talk to the Broker who runs the office. Se if you can come to one of their weekly meetings and give a presentation. They will sell more houses if they use your services.
Customers gonna be looking at gravel
Instead of green grass , Lawn 😟😮😲
Over all nice job but I wouldn't be happy about seeing gravel in my yard
We only do it this way in extreme situations where results are more important than looks. Customers often add landscaping and try to dress it up.
@@GCFD what happens if you cover the gravel with dirt and plant grass? Nobody seems to answer that question.
@@leonherndonjr.7499 the dirt blocks water from entering the French drain, thereby negating its function. Water doesn’t flow through dirt and grass but does flow through gravel.
@@leonherndonjr.7499 It would be fine, thats what farmers do in their fields. You are still removing groundwater but you will be limiting surface water. Shortens the life span of the drain slightly because the water flow carries silt with it which can block the gravel/pipe but its nothing major.
If you’re going to have a video montage, there’s no need to have the added music blasting 3-4 times louder than normal audio
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Shut up
Renting a motorized wheelbarrow would have saved you valuable time. Time is money.
music too loud
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so this person has to have a random gravel spot in there backyard for ever ? what if I really cared about how my yard looks? you mean to tell me I can never put sod down and have to have gravel down like that forever ?lol....
You'd enlarge the gravel area into a walk path - If you "Really cared how your yard looks" then you'd adapt the look to the functional need as with that level of standing water you would never have a viable lawn as it would constantly become a moss overgrowth
Chris I have homeowners who make it into a path as Ben commented. Adding pavers, flagstone, stepping stone, more decorative gravel, boulders, or anything else to improve the looks. Keep in mind value results over looks and most of my customers are trying to save their houses.
I couldn't see it properly in the video and you didn't comment on it. But I don't see any filter fleece and also no perforated pipes and also no revision opening at the beginning of the system, which you need to clean the system once a year. If so, check out this guy. He did it the right way (beside the revision opening): th-cam.com/video/nY91WxP6v40/w-d-xo.html 😉
Hi Arno - yes the pipe is perforated - the holes face down. And no I don't use any sock over the pipe. That will clog long before 24" of gravel will so I use gravel as my filter. These systems flow so well they don't need to be cleaned but I do include a vented cleanout. I wouldn't follow the practices in the video you linked. Check out my video Proof that french drains work. I'm also installing one today and will have that video out soon. Thanks! - Shawn
But all that stone in the yard looks Awful.....should have used yard drains instead
What is a yard drain? You mean a catch basin? I don't know of another way to collect non-point water than a french drain. This system is still working very well, despite the appearance.
Man to many adds I’m out
You missed a great system!
@@GCFD yea I know sometimes the adds kill it, love the vids though
use better music gees
Send me a link to some good stuff
You should show a bit more respect for utility markings. By law, you are required to hand dig within 15’ of any marked utilities. Best practice is to expose the utility where marked to verify the markings and then you’ll know where it’s safe to operate your machine. Can get very expensive for you very quick just digging away like you did here.
Hi Hunter - Thanks for your comment. I should have noted that there was no active internet service on the house. This was part of a real estate deal. Both realtors told me not to worry about the communications lines as the new buyer was going with fiber. I should have made that more clear in the video...
15’? I don’t think so pal
A true French drain was never meant to be pretty just move water away and all the old drains that worked for many many years were open stone drains like u installed. People want to sacrifice functionality for presentation. French Drain Man will be returning to his jobs and removing fabric and sod in a few years 😂
I'm never afraid to show my outfalls. These drains move water and that's what they are supposed to do, like you said. I deliver results over looks. Thanks for the comments! Shawn
@@GCFD I am kinda confused, possibly du to ignorance/misinformed. Does this mean that the term "French Drain" is a grated inlet with underground piping to drain the water away? I always thought that a "French Drain" was perforated pipe to let the water seep in to be drained away, whether there is an inlet or not. Thx.
You didn’t use corrugated pipe, didn’t put the pipe at the very bottom, you put gravel all the way level with the sod, no gutter to pvc adapters, wow dude only thing worth it was the solid run to the curb
Thanks for the comment. Of course I didn't use corrugated. I only use schedule 40 PVC. Placing the pipe at the very bottom of the trench allows dirt to get in closer, which is why I place gravel in and then the perforated PVC pipe. I don't like to cover up the gravel with dirt, because this only ends up in the gravel and restricting flow. This system was designed with one goal - to carry the most water and never need maintenance. The things you criticized are actually what I'm most proud of with these systems. It's also why I have so much work - much of it is replacing inferior systems like you described.
You’ve been watching too many bad videos
YOU NEEDED TO INSTALL A REAL
FRENCH DRAIN ❗😡😡❗ LIKE FRENCH DRAIN MAN INSTALL' S 👍👍👍
Not just PVC piping 🤷🤷😞😞