DrainageThe significance of a proper drainage system in your yard can not be emphasized enough. Problems like erosion, standing water, or damage to your house are serious concerns that should be addressed as soon as possible. In order to combat these issues, consider different landscape drainage solutions such as channel drains, french drains, dry wells, yard drains, or even retaining walls.
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French Drains
A French drain is one of the most common drainage systems that is installed in a yard. In simple terms, they are underground pipes that are built in a trench to redirect water from your lawn to somewhere else. While french drains can help with surface water issues like flooding, they are best used for groundwater issues like oversaturated soil that may lead to flooding. Additionally, french drains tend to have complications during installation due to the fact that they are built underground. Installing one incorrectly can be dangerous in that you may run into power lines, other water pipes or general land issues. Therefore, it is essential to have some detailed structure of your yard beforehand or to contact a specialist.
Channel Drains
A channel drain is a long grated surface that easily lets water flow out of a yard and is emptied elsewhere through an underground drainage system. Moreover, if water pooling is a main concern, channel drains tend to be the best solution both financially and practically. When installed properly, these drains typically last anywhere from 25 to 50 years. They also require minimal maintenance and are affordable to install.
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Dry Wells
A good way to describe a dry well is an underground garbage can for water. They are typically filled with gravel or stone so that any redirected water can percolate to the underlying soil. Dry wells are an especially useful drainage solution when you have an uneven area in your yard. Instead of the water pooling or causing flooding that can reach the homes of neighbors, the water is redirected using gravity to get to the lowest part in your yard. Here, the well is installed so the water can disappear at its own pace while causing minimal to no water damage.
Retaining Walls
While retaining walls are great for decoration in a yard, they also serve the purpose of improving drainage and preventing erosion. If, for example, you have a slope in your yard where water tends to accumulate, consider building a retaining wall to redirect the flow of water in certain areas. That being said, while retaining walls can protect from erosion and redirect water, there can sometimes be issues of pooling around the wall itself. In this case, you will likely need to double down and build a drainage system around the wall too.
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Yard Drains/Catch Basins
Yard Drains or catch basins are used to collect stormwater and debris that comes along with it. These tend to be installed under downspouts and will often have a pipe to redirect it to a nearby stream, river or the street. However, even though these can be an effective drainage tool, they often require more maintenance due to the smaller size and likelihood of debris causing a blockage. Because of this and other issues homeowners typically have, it is best to get an expert to install and help with the maintenance on this type of drain.