As we enter the rainy season we need to think about drainage. Drainage can be an asset to the health and safety of your property. Living on the West Coast, we see a fair amount of rain during the colder months. Proper drainage will help keep your property safe from natural rain hazards. Drainage systems will help keep your home safe by redirecting excess water runoff and protecting against standing water moving water away from your home when it is not wanted. This article will cover the different types of drainage we carry here at Wes-Tech.
Surface Drains
When it comes to surface drains there are a couple of different options like channel drains and catch basins. Surface drains are an effective and practical method for managing excess water. They are particularly useful for managing surface runoff, standing water, and water pooling, all of these can lead to erosion and damage to your yard and your home foundation. Channel drains and Catch Basins are just two examples of surface drains, as there are many other kinds of surface drains, like French drains, surface swells, dams, etc.
Channel Drains
Channel Drains have a long linear design which allows them to efficiently handle large volumes of water, like the amount of water running off a driveway to your home. The channel drain will most commonly be connected to a pipe drainage system to redirect the water away from the highly saturated areas. You will often see channel drains located in the front of a garage or doorways, around pools, and at road edges. Channel drains can easily be integrated into your landscape, they come in various designs and sizes. These kinds of drains can be used in residential or commercial applications.
Catch Basins
Catch Basins are designed to be a practical and effective method of managing excess water. Catch basins are easy to clean and come in an array of different sizes, they easily redirect water away from your problem areas. Water is collected into your catch basin and then redirected away with a pipe drainage system. Catch basins can play a crucial role in preventing flooding and pooling of water. You will usually see catch basins under a downspout, in parking lots and other high-traffic areas. This form of drainage is seen in residential and commercial applications. These work well in low-laying areas where water can be an issue.
French Drains
A French drain is a versatile and highly effective style of drainage system. You can seamlessly add a French drain to your yard with ease. The installation method can enhance the natural aspects of your yard without the look of grates. A French drain is a simple but effective method of drainage it consists of a trench, gravel or rock, perforated pipe, and then drainage and filtration fabric to cover the pipe to prevent clogging. French drains are a low-maintenance way to keep your yard free from excess surface runoff, standing water, pooling, and over-saturation they require low to minimal maintenance compared to other drainage systems, the gravel or rock acts as a natural filter preventing most clogging.
Kinds of Pipe used for French Drains
PVC Pipe: French drains are typically built with perforated PVC pipe as it is a rigid type of pipe that can handle higher traffic areas, isn’t penetrable by roots and is simple to unclog. Since PVC pipe walls are smooth they are less likely to clog or catch debris.
Corrugated Pipe: Another option for building your French drain is with a perforated corrugated pipe as it is easy to install and glue is unnecessary. The corrugated pipe typically comes in a 100-foot roll making it easy to do long run lengths without interrupting connection points between the pipe. Corrugated pipe can come with cloth, or without.
EZ-Flow Pipe: NDS makes an EZ-flow pipe that can make the installation of a French drain fast and easy, the EZ-flow pipe is a high-density polyethylene it’s perforated and corrugated, this pipe comes surrounded by aggregate and a fabric mesh, both are lightweight. French drain, pipe alternatives such as the one shown flexible and come in 3 and 4 inch pipe and 5-foot or 10-foot lengths.
Flo Well
A Flo-Well drainage system also known as a dry-well is a subsurface structure designed to manage excess water by allowing it to percolate into the ground. Flo-Wells collect, retain, and discharge storm water on-site, offering a gravel-free alternative to a traditional dry well. These units are modular and can be stacked or connected in series to accommodate higher volumes of water and meet a variety of project needs. The NDS Flo-Well is environmentally friendly as it is made from 100% recycled materials and will filter the storm water naturally through the subsurface, reducing pollutants and helping replenish groundwater tables.
If you are looking to install a drainage system, think of some of these options, you can either do the installation yourself or hire a drainage expert. Here at Wes-Tech we are happy to help with any questions you may have, just come into the store or fill out our contact form, one of our many knowledgeable staff is eager to help you.