How to Build The Best French Drain, 2 Drains | 100% Guaranteed | Great DIY

[@kalervomakinen2076]

So air locked meant it was blocked by soil or whatever at the water inlet part at the catch basin ?

[@user-iu7rf6yt3l]

I didn( know Rod Steward recycled into Drainage business !.. How cool is that !

[@jarhead6153]

I enjoy your honesty in these vids…thanks.

[@kansasfan649]

Nice work, very informative and useful. Like he says the secret is to add catch basins (I hope he has video on setting those up properly). Thanks.

[@ShemBoothSpain]

chucks a legend

[@SeanBaker]

You're on a roll, Chuck!

[@natesuhl4322]

Sure wish you’d come to illinois and do my crawl space French drain!

[@byronintegrated]

Great Video - Why the base of grave under the Perforated Pipe? Would it not be better to be direct on top of the Woven Geo Fabric? Water would need to rise up to get into the pipe

[@bruceandericalee9515]

I have a small backhoe that digs well on small jobs. Is there anything I should worry about using my backhoe?

[@johnway9853]

Once you've removed the airlock, will it continue to work or will it dry out and airlock again the next time it rains?

[@CP-nf9my]

An hour to dig? 😆 Not happening here. Thanks for the great videos.

[@liltsummerlin423]

I'm so confused 😕 I literally just watched another video that you said Not to use the geo fabric because it doesn't allow water to flow into the drain very well... I'm in South Mississippi and I have a huge water ponding issue thats going under my home and now I don't know what to do again 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@appledrains]

Sandy soil- wrap clay -optional

[@garymitchell7551]

I just watched a video that says not to use stone under the pipe … so my take is that the soils underneath determine whether stone is used under the pipe or not but always use fabric under the pipe

[@wayneguy6043]

He flip flops over time😂

[@dwighta2025]

Watch the French drain man instead he will give you WAY better guidance than this guy

[@nancywilliams7833]

I had the same problem with water. My neighbor's property is above mine and caused major flooding of my house and foundation. Water was seeping in at the footer and when we had major storms of 4 inches or more, it came under the door. First, I dug down to the foundation and sealed it as Chuck has shown on many videos. I dug a deep hole and installed a sump pump basin and a zoellar M-98 pump. I installed 6 inch catch basins in the 4 lowest spots and had them run to the pump basin. I installed 2 downspouts from gutters and ran them to the basin. I used solid 4 inch corregated pipe from catch basins to basin. I used Schedule 40 pipe as my discharge out to a swale. That Zoellar pump is so strong that I thought thin wall might not hold up to the pressure. My biggest problem was my discharge line because the pump was so strong. I did not put in any French drains because my problem is getting rid of the immediate water. This spring I replaced the flate grates on my catch basins with the atrium grates. This eliminated a problem I was having with grass clogging the flat grate. I live in SE Oklahoma and have dense clay soil. It takes a lot of time for water to perculate down to a French drain so elected to solve my problem with just catch basins. Chuck's videos enabled me to do all this. I wish I had know about this years ago. By the way, I dug all this by myself last year at age 75. It took me way more than a day. Chuck says, "If you think you can do it, you can". And I did.

[@joebudi5136]

So will it get airlock every time i.e. not work?

[@heatherkennedy2731]

How do I install this next to exterior wall for basement how far away and deep

[@rromero1318]

Cool video I really enjoy this one, that was amazing the place he goes, crazy too. That sun set was amazing

[@bruceandericalee9515]

Do we need gravel on top of the ex flow?

[@trishmcelderry4762]

Hi Chuck, I live in Minnesota. We have a lot of hard pan clay, and it seems like it goes down all the way to the other side of the earth. So, don't I have to put rock in the bottom of the trench if it's clay soil? If you live in an area like I do, what's the best approach for those of us who live where there is heavy clay? Do you have a video for this? Thank you for your content.

[@marioderioverde4470]

you are a good teacher, thanks.

[@derektreonze3275]

Hey Chuck awesome videos! Youre probably very busy with the business and responding to comments. This is going to feel like I am peppering you with questions. I am digging trenches for french drains around an inground pool (53 ft x 26 ft) put in several decades ago. I was wondering the following: The dimensions of the trenches, inches below the concrete for the top of the gravel, pitch of the perforated pipe, do I need to wrap pipe and gravel in fabric and can the top of gravel stay exposed? Im sorry for the long comment, I wholeheartedly appreciate any guidance and help.

[@marthaperez3212]

What about if I used perforated pvc pipe covered with a sleeve do I have to use the black fabric still?

[@RyanPratt1]

What do you normally do with excess soil from trenching?

[@appledrains]

Haul away

[@RyanPratt1]

@@appledrains thanks for the quick reply! Been watching for about a year now. Gonna tackle my own system come spring

[@wng8993]

Vent pipe, like a plumbing system?

[@Manatus22]

What would you / as it refers to systems for Alabama- my area has 1/2 or more clay.

[@appledrains]

@@Manatus22 use easy, easy flow

[@Mark.Watson]

I don't recall you using large gravel like that before. Does size used depend on the situation?

[@danraymond1703]

Use 1inch clean rock! not river rock

[@bonsummers2657]

What's clean rock as opposed to river rock?@@danraymond1703

[@r3d-1truth17]

Thank you for all your information and video content. I’ve learned an extreme amount of valuable lessons watching. I wanted to know your opinion on how to make a trench in very rocky soil? I’m in Wisconsin, and my yard has tons of rocks in the soil, and using my shovel has been pretty hard. I’ve already chipped the front part of the shovel, and barely made any progress in about three or four hours of digging. I’m trying to install a French drain and a gutter drain, and have to run about 130ft total. I’m hoping to not have to spend too much money on the the project, but feel like it will be to my advantage to rent power tools. Thanks again, and keep up the awesome work!! Cheers

[@ryanhansen8312]

Sometimes those trenchers dont like rocks, I have owned several. 36-48", You might looking to getting a pressure washer to hydro excavate and a trash pump to clear the water that builds up from the pressure washer. Try searching hydro-excavation.

[@Manatus22]

Hi - I tried to have my utilities to come and mark- 811. But only got a flag on the siwalk water register. So I have NO clue where things are beyond a mild guess. Any suggestions. I’m in Alabama SE

[@appledrains]

@@Manatus22 call again

[@ApexxJimmy]

I thought i had everything figured out but according to a an expert, gravel should not be below the drainage tube because water will pool up under it if it does and roots will grow into the system. what do you guys think? Also, I'm in the mid-west and worried about clay. Am i asking for trouble if I don't use a wrap? and how far away should the system be away from a foundation?? I wish there was a video that talks about everything and there wasn't a million ways to install a drain.

[@Mark_conor]

i have water puddling in my backyard during long periods of rain it always collects in the same areas. My question is with my yard being flat would i be able to move some of the water to the front of the house using a trench drain? I dont understand with no hill side how the pop will work if its uder ground seeing that i have to slope to where i want water to flow? would a dry well be a better solution for me i live in broward county fl if you also dont mind checking my property out please reply

[@raycaster4398]

With clay soil throughout the country seems best to avoid fabric all together, just use river rock.

[@ShadowDarken]

You just put an expiration on your French drain. Soil will migrate into the rock within a few years...

[@Manatus22]

Who does the white line? Utility company??

[@kkpopp7696]

thank you friend

[@bradleyryan1117]

How big is the trencher?

[@appledrains]

Do you mean how wide? It’s 10 to 12 inch

[@bradleyryan1117]

Yessir! I’m in Jacksonville, Florida. Tried to schedule a consultation call with you. I’d love to chat more. I’m not afraid to put in the work, but just want to make sure my plan is good to go. Would even pay to have you come out and advise if it’s not a bad drive from Orlando.

[@Stevesbe]

Florida is flat where does it drain too

[@wg7644]

Have to use excavator in the soil where I live - dig a hole and get 5 gallon bucket full of rocks.

[@FortinoAldanaArroyo]

Why the liner underneath the pieegravel I seen videos where you use just peagravel under the pipe

[@bonsummers2657]

Ah seen…..!

[@westsidewil]

I have a couple of questions: 1) I’m in Binghamton NY. Soil is very dense and tightly packed. What pipe would be best? 2)There is a portion of my trench that is approximately 4 ft deep as many, many years ago it looks like a past neighbor has added 2-3 ft of soil to level their property. I’m afraid that the ADS would get crushed under that and am leaning towards the thin walled PVC with holes pointing down and back filling with Round #1 and 3) fabric or not? Thanks.

[@brumby92]

Look at the specs at the product available to you. If you follow the manual it has tremendous strength.

[@frankscalisi9720]

How deep do you dig the trench?

[@appledrains]

Depends on your discharge point

[@frankscalisi9720]

I plan on using a sump pump to get rid of the water. I’m in the north east can I send u a picture of my issue and seek your advice.

[@ScottKublin]

Do underground locators detect irrigation pipes?

[@flat6fever680]

No, they do not. Just utilities that you pay monthly for.

[@joeshmoe7789]

Why the french drain? Why not solid pipe. French drains are for sub surface water, this yard had surface water.

[@micahswerens2472]

How about for clay type soil? What would you use for that?

[@jimbov23]

We put a french drain in. Our property is heavy clay and Geo-textile fabrics of multiple weights wrapping large stone and the pipe kept getting clogged within no time. When our clay gets wet around here its pudding. So far, best solution that continues to work for us is a really large trench, ours is 28" wide and about 20" deep. Filled with stone that ranges from 2"-4" round and the pipe now continues to flow freely. Yes, its a crap ton of stone but its working.

[@mandiegarrett1706]

@@jimbov23 I am in the same situation with clay soil. I have about 150ft long trench to go. So after trenching, did you put in large stone first, then the pipe, and then more stone top of pipe? What kind, size of pipe and with or without holes did you use? Really appreciate your response.

[@jimbov23]

@@mandiegarrett1706 Originally we had wrapped the trench in Geo-textile fabric like you see all over youtube and we used an expensive quality fabric from a specialty store , put the 6" corrugated and perforated (slotted) pipe directly on the bottom on the fabric at a measured slope and covered it with stone but we soon found the fabric causes the water to drain very slow and eventually the fabric was quickly clogged with the fine clay. We ended up ripping that all out, and now have just an open dug trench that we widened which we put just about an inch or so of stone at the bottom, the pipe on top of that then back filled with 2"-4" round drainage stone. It flowed water much more freely and has been working with no issues so far. While I know filter fabric works, it does not work at all in Clay soils where I live at least. I found that out the hard way. Clay already slows water saturation and when you add a barrier of even the best quality fabric, its makes the water just pool and be even slower. Our situation went from bad to worse suing fabric. I believe our fabric had completely clogged from clay deposits within a few months of heavy rains. This fabric free trench is working much better. It reduced all of the standing water and the clay soil dries out probably 90% quicker and it now longer like pudding for weeks after heavy storms. We also put in catch basins every 20' of so, especially in low spots. We've put a camera down the pipe to check it out over time and its still clean. I've spot checked areas by removing all the stones to see if any clay is merging into the stone which was my initial worry and so far so good. It's very very minimal which was great to see.

[@mandiegarrett1706]

@@jimbov23 WOW...THANK YOU SO MUCH for your detail explanation. You don't know how much you have help me coming out from what they called an "analysis paralysis" state because it's been months of trying to find an answer. I have watched countless of youtube videos, and they seem to make it so easy and working so well but then I realized they don't have heavy clay soil like I do here, till I came across your comments then WHOA!!!...YES, THAT'S IT!!!, someone in similar situation. It makes so much sense to me. Because we lived in a farm environment, and I will need a strong pipe. Instead of using 6" corrugated perforated pipe, I was thinking of using 6" schedule 40 pvc perforated pipe because I think it is stronger, what is your thought on pvc pipe.? Also, do you use the same size round rocks for bottom layer and top of pipe? Again, THANK YOU.

[@jimbov23]

@@mandiegarrett1706 If you plan to drive over the pipe use PVC schedule 40 that's perforated for drainage and point the holes downward on the stone bed. For the bottom layer of stone, we used a washed stone that was 1" or less in diameter. To cover the pipe we used 2"-4" washed round rock stone. Remember to get washed stones at a minimum. We initially also went off what we saw on youtube and advice from some drainage companies about burrito wrapping the stone and pipe but in our clay soil, the ground water ended no better and the drainage was super slow. Took almost just as long to penetrate the filter fabric as it would naturally drying up which was days and sometimes weeks. We then had a neighbor a handful of properties down mention they had to remove their fabric layer about 8 years ago and its been fine since. Removing the filter fabric layer on ours too made the water flow freely for us. Our clay up here is nasty.

[@mindofmatter071]

Point the wheelbarrow in the direction you're going!😂😂😂 I've preached that for years!! They finally figure it out...down south!😂

[@appledrains]

Yep

[@whobitmyname]

Please, someone help this noob understand. Why would I want slots *under* my pipe? If water floods up, does it really matter if it gets to rise 4 more inches before entering the top of the pipe? Or does it matter enough to compromise my drainage of the water flooding down? Why is my water essentially trying to follow a colander to daylight? Not questioning, just asking.

[@JMJ.516]

No idea what air locked means. And I wish the other fabric the EZ Flow was shown how to install.

[@appledrains]

Hi Clairez . Air locked references trapped air in the pipe. It stops the water flow. As for EZ FLOW DRAIN PIPE .. just just the channel. There are hundreds of videos show how to install. Thanks for your comment!

[@sonnygsmith3207]

@@appledrains So, how do you prevent the catch basin from air locked again? So you don't have to manually remove the lid after heavy rain. thnx

[@stevenicho4373]

In another video yoj say not to use fabric as it gets clogged ,confused 🤷‍♂️

[@zer0talen74]

It depends on the soil type. For sandy soil they use fabric, for clay soil they do not.

[@sebasteinmccarty7976]

Do you even age lol. Keep up the great content man.

[@wayneguy6043]

It would take me two days to dig 100’ of hard clay, rocks and roots

[@bonsummers2657]

What's your favorite drink?

[@appledrains]

What’s yours?