In the world of home improvement and repair, there are many steps you might take to ensure that your water runoff at home is under control. Cleaning and maintaining your gutter guards is an important step, but what happens if your gutters are still overwhelmed with water overflow? This can lead to pooling in your yard, or mold or water damage in or around your home. At Alamance Insulation and Gutters, we can help! We’re prepared to professionally install, maintain, and clean your gutters. If you have an issue with water runoff, give us a call today and we will help. 

One way to curb water runoff problems is to collect water and channel it to an appropriate outlet. One way to do this is with a French drain. What is a French drain, exactly? It is a trench that is filled with a perforated pipe and gravel that lets water drain naturally. Depending on a few things, like the size of your yard and how bad your drainage problem is, you may be able to install a French drain. To install a French drain, follow these steps:

  1. Figure out the location of the excess water that’s pooling, and then figure out where you want that water to go. Look for retention ponds or existing drainage. Avoid draining onto a neighbor’s property, and make sure your neighborhood doesn’t have restrictions to dig a trench. Also, make sure that your water issue is not caused by leakage from an underground pipe that needs to be repaired.
  2. Dig a trench. Dig a hole from the place in your yard that needs relief to the outlet you have chosen. The trench should be about 18 inches deep and 9-12 inches wide. The trench should run horizontally across a slope so that gravity will help your cause. Make sure to check for underground utility lines and pipes before you start digging!
  3. Line the trench with filter fabric. This will help keep the French drain free of debris. 
  4. Pour gravel bedding. About 3 inches of gravel or stone at the bottom of the trench should work just fine.
  5. Hook up pipe connections. Install a grate at the point where the water pools the most. You may need fittings for your pipe system. You can use inexpensive, flexible drainage hose, or longer-lasting PVC pipe.
  6. Set the pipe drain in the trench. Lay the pipe structure on top of the gravel, and make sure the drainage holes are pointed down. Test the flow of the drain by pouring water in the inlet grate.
  7. Cover with gravel and fabric. Cover the pip with about 3 inches of gravel – not enough to cross above ground level. Then wrap more fabric over it for an added layer of protection.
  8. Fill with topsoil. Compact it completely to cover the entire French drain. 
  9. Maintain your French drain by reseeding the surface if necessary. Make sure to inspect and clean it regularly, and flush any debris to ensure that your water flow is not being hindered. 

A French drain may help the flow of your water runoff from your gutters and downspouts. If you think your water pooling is a bigger problem, make sure to consider getting new gutters or downspouts. Contact Alamance Insulation and Gutters today for any help with your gutters – installation, maintenance, and cleaning. We’ve got you covered!