Downspout to French drain question
#1
10-20-06, 07:53 PM
Downspout to French drain question
We have a house with about a 1500 Sq/ft roof. The house sits on gentle hill. On the uphill side the 3 downspouts empty into what looks like a French drain. At trench that goes around the house filled with rocks and a 4 in pipe with holes at 90 degrees. I dug up the rocks in a few spots because I wanted to clean out the drains line and check for leaks. When I run the hose down the cleanout water is visible in the trench. Is this normal? I thought you need to keep water away from the foundation. The system was installed way before we moved in 3 rainy seasons ago. I never have had a problem. The house is on a concrete slab so there is no basement to flood.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
10-21-06, 02:10 PM
The whole idea about leader pipes into underground drains is to get the water away from the house. Therfore, you would want to use solid pipes, not perforated which will distribute the water instead taking it away. If you have no basement I guess it really doesn't matter in your situation unless your yard stays wet.
#3
10-21-06, 06:50 PM
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It sounds to me that everything is installed properly. You have to have perforated pipe in the trench to pick up the water and transfer it down the pipe. There is no problem with seeing water in the trench. The bottom of the pipe is solid, and the water has to get so deep before it can get into the pipe. I would say you are fine.
#5
10-22-06, 12:53 PM
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Downspout to French drain question
The question of holes or no holes depends on what you want to do.
If you want to carry water (like a surge from a sump pump) away from your house, you do not want to have holes. If you want to cary the same water away plus collect and drain soil/surface water away fill the area around the plastic pipe with rock.
If you just want to carry surface/soil water away, you can use a perforated pipe and/or a rock fill in the trench. The problem with the holes in a sump discharge is that you can "lose" your water too close to your foundation.
Anytime you have a trench filled with rock, be advised that it is possible under unusual conditions (flood, downpor, etc.) to have water from an exterior source back up in the trench to your foundation.
If you have downspouts, you can route the into aflexible plastic pipe out to a pop-up bubble in your yard well away from the house.
Dick
If you want to carry water (like a surge from a sump pump) away from your house, you do not want to have holes. If you want to cary the same water away plus collect and drain soil/surface water away fill the area around the plastic pipe with rock.
If you just want to carry surface/soil water away, you can use a perforated pipe and/or a rock fill in the trench. The problem with the holes in a sump discharge is that you can "lose" your water too close to your foundation.
Anytime you have a trench filled with rock, be advised that it is possible under unusual conditions (flood, downpor, etc.) to have water from an exterior source back up in the trench to your foundation.
If you have downspouts, you can route the into aflexible plastic pipe out to a pop-up bubble in your yard well away from the house.
Dick
