Quality PVC drainage system solves 40 year flooded basement

We installed a quality PVC drainage system to solve flooded basement/walk out garage issues. The customer reported back after 6" of rain that they had a dry basement! "We are believers" they said. PVC delivers results.
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[@Chief_5]

My crawl space was completely flooded and a Crawl Space Solutions company wanted $21,000.00 to encapsulate my crawl space. After watching these videos I did minimal work to my gutters and now it’s raining and my crawl space is completely dry! Thank you for posting these great videos!!! 👍👍

[@GCFD]

Thank you for sharing Chief! My thought is keep the water away from the house and you don't have any problems. It seems that most companies want to encapsulate or pump, where I divert the water from becoming a problem in the first place.

[@saltminer8547]

KZbin at its finest. I have zero interest in drainage. But I've watched about three of these videos. Totally fascinating.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! I'm glad you've enjoyed them! - Shawn

[@rocwyvern1101]

Same here! For some reason, I've watched like 5+ of these videos since yesterday. The only thing it's succeeding in doing is to make me want to have my own house, so that I can dig and install all sorts of draining systems (as seen in the videos I've watched so far) on my property! 😆😆😆 I'm sure learning new stuff! Those French pipes look so great! 👍😆😆😆

[@moonbeamjones9888]

Same here, thanks for the great content Shawn

[@CompuWhizz]

Congratulations you installed what is a basic drainage system here in Europe, constantly amused at US building standards

[@uluzistherealest]

@@CompuWhizz house has probably been there for 50 or more years. Things change with time, I'm sure Europe didn't require this in the 20s, 30s or 50s.

[@rodliston797]

Always impressed on how well you respect and treat your employees...

[@GCFD]

Thank you! They are my biggest asset for sure.

[@toddgolling5760]

Thanks for coming back while its raining! I wanted to see how it performed.

[@GCFD]

The system is still working very well for these homeowners.

[@DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

That's just about the best part.

[@NackDSP]

Great job. I did the same to my in-laws house last fall. It worked out great. I tried to hire the job, but the local companies didn't want to fix the downspout plumbing and said they would only do a much more expensive solution, jack hammer a trench inside the basement floor and install pipes under the basement. I did just what you did here and they had a dry basement all winter even with some record rains.

[@chrisgee3197]

Seems like a silly strategy to catch the outside water inside the basement before removing it from the property when you could just remove it directly with proper drainage.

[@GCFD]

That's why I started this company! Everyone wants to pump the water inside instead of divert it outside. 👍

[@devontedesco6981]

I’m a waterproofer,we have lifetime transferable warranty on all waterproofing systems, the way you divert the water like this video I find it hard to believe there’s any warranty or guarantee there will be no water in the basement/crawl. This is what landscapers do around me & they don’t have any warranty

[@allanb9360]

It is comforting to watch professionals work. I really like what you’re doing there.From Canada good work guys

[@GCFD]

Thank you Allan

[@Fitz710]

Nothing feels better than a glowing customer review

[@GCFD]

I agree, and a problem solved!

[@robertkreiling1746]

Had a friend do mine last summer and No more water in my basement , PERIOD ! Great job there !And much , much cheaper than any other way to do it too !

[@GCFD]

Thanks for sharing!

[@danwake4431]

I am always amazed at how many houses in your videos let the downspouts empty right next to the house. I was always told get the longest downspout extensions you get, get it far away from the house. Yet many people let the water go down right alongside their foundation.

[@GCFD]

I agree Dan. Get that water away from the foundation!

[@timderks5960]

I'm always amazed (after binging a lot of these videos and having seen other American homes on video) that Americans dump their rainwater above ground at all. Where I live, standing water is rarely an issue. Heavy downpours are extremely rare, and the soil is extremely sandy, so pooling water on natural ground simply doesn't happen. Despite those great conditions for drainage, our home has had all gutters connected through underground piping to an infiltration pit ever since it was built somewhere near 1950, and I don't know any place anywhere that has above ground rainwater dumping. But then again, I'm also amazed at the horrible gutters and downpipes that are in use even today in the US. Some things are just different I guess.

[@huejanus5505]

@@timderks5960 Where do you live? Up here in Canada, with our brutal winters, such a shallow drain would freeze and crack, or worse, by December. Our drains are at the bottom of our foundations, at least 1.2m below grade. My rain gutters flow onto the ground about 1 metre from the house and run downhill from there. No water problems here.

[@timderks5960]

​@@huejanus5505 I'm in the Netherlands. We may not have harsh winters, but we have harsh regulations, and we know a lot about water management. Our foundations and drainage all have to be at least 0.8m below ground level, so it's not that different. Thing is about a drain though: they don't freeze and crack, unless you have some horrible installs, or some very specific conditions for a long time (which probably can happen in Canada, but draining overground isn't going to fix that). The only way a pipe can crack is if you have a pipe filled with water, a.k.a. a horrible drainage system. If ice slowly builds up, it doesn't exert nearly the amount of pressure it does when you just have a full pipe that freezes at once. One other thing that can happen is that ice slowly builds up, clogs your pipe, and then causes the pipe to fill with water. Now I've never seen a situation where there's a lot of water and a lot of ice going on at the same time, but I guess it can happen. Anyway, the chances of a rain pipe bursting because of freezing is pretty much zero. The reason why pressurised pipes burst is because the pipe is already at pressure, and the ice ads on to that, while the water has nowhere to go. In a drainage system, the situation is a whole lot different. The whole idea of a drain underground freezing is just silly. Not saying it can't happen, but if it's frozen underground, it's **definitely** frozen above ground. The only time I can think of when it's frozen below ground and not above, is when you're in early spring, and the sun has warmed up your roof enough for snow to melt, which then hits the cold pipe below ground. Still, not that much of an issue.

[@toddgolling5760]

This is brilliant. You've given me some ideas for my own drainage issues that I'm going to work on this spring.

[@GCFD]

Awesome! Good luck with your project!

[@bradlaviolette2246]

Good to see someone doing it right, I tied all my downspouts and sump pump together with sch40, ended up with a 6" pipe going to the ditch. works like a charm as I'm sure this does. Black corrugated is a temporary fix in my eyes.

[@GCFD]

I agree! 👍

[@barrygrant2907]

My builder used corrugated drain pipe in my front yard, and--predictably--it collapsed and clogged with roots after about five years. I dug it out and installed Sch 40 4" pipe and now, 20 years later, it still works like a champ.

[@nonsequitor807]

I commend you for allowing your team to come up with n implementing their own ideas 👍

[@roberthernandez1985]

Your work is amazing Shawn all I can say is though avoid sanitary tees and use wye fittings as much as u can to keep the velocity high

[@cheongyei]

The customer letter says it all! Congrats on another good job. I like Terry's attitude, too. Gate City Foundation Drainage.....using human intelligence and the energy of gravity to help water make its way closer to sea level.

[@GCFD]

....and hopefully away from causing problems.

[@DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

I enjoy your videos. I've done some fairly extensive drainage projects around my house, broadly similar to this one - catching downspouts in 4" PVC and taking them to the street, with fall all the way from one end to the other. I learned a great trick from this one - duct-taping the primer & glue cans together! I have a terrible knack for spilling them, so that will help a lot. My water pipes inside are all CPVC, so it applies inside too. Thanks!

[@GCFD]

That's an old plumber's trick!

[@mathewfranco3211]

I always say a good thank you is all I ask for my work 😊

[@peterhandelson1193]

I loved this video. Really good for DIY or just knowledge to know who to hire. Excellent.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Peter!

[@Rubbernecker]

That review is no surprise!! Well done!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Scott

[@michaelcrabtree2939]

Great way of thinking for diverting the water away from the house.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Diverting the gutter water is usually the ticket for flooding issues.

[@Sportsr4lyfe93]

I've been hooked on your videos.. its like calming to watch

[@GCFD]

Thank you! 👍

[@irvalfirestar6265]

This channel made me think about places relevant to me that are damp and probably need drainage.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@buddys3217]

I 100% endorse the pvc pipe drainage and shun corrugated. I engineered a system for my home that captures all roof water, foundation water, and yard water into one system and its all sch 40 pvc.

[@GCFD]

Nice work

[@charlesfield9286]

RIGHT THE F___ ON!!!! I’m a structural engineer and 6 to 9 times a week I’m telling people to do this exact thing. I always tell them that they will need get it done 3 times. First the contractor will install corrugated black plastic (which crushes and clogs), then after they point out that the plans specified PVC the second contractor will install SDR21 PVC pipe (which crushes), then finally after they point that the plans call for Sch 40 PVC the third contractor will install a system correctly. I love that there is at least contractor that does it right. If you all were located in Richmond VA I would keep you buried in referrals. The only thing I’d have you do different is adding some clean outs at the top for maintenance.

[@AlexeiTetenov]

Thank you for sharing!

[@sku32956]

This solves so many water issues in basement I have done it to 4 houses rentals ,folks do it backwards they get a sump pump first that is the last thing you do . First put dirt around foundation bury gutters ,cut back trees not sure if they cutback trees here .

[@GCFD]

Thank you Billy. It seems to make more sense to keep the water away passively than to pump it after it has infiltrated through the foundation. 👍

[@brentking-gmailking2570]

It was a great job. Congratulations on the customers review.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@dfores5602]

Watching your videos has got me thinking about how to solve some drainage issues around me house.. If your crew was closer I know who I would be calling!

[@GCFD]

Thank you! 👍

[@jamescohn4268]

You guys are awesome man! What a great job and idea!!!!

[@GCFD]

Thanks! 👍

[@erickm119]

Amazing work!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@AtomicQuotient]

Awesome video. Not illegal to dump water on the sidewalk, I think our muni would come after me .. nice jobs

[@GCFD]

Yes, check with yours. Here, they don't seem to care what anyone does with water.

[@osianmeilyr89]

Some lovely roots there. Drain addict would be right at home with these

[@GCFD]

👍👍

[@Grizzleback07]

Don't forget the corn, too. 😁

[@azimuthclark462]

I'm looking at a house right now and all the downspouts empty right next to the foundation, I haven't seen the inside of the basement yet but there's got to be water somewhere. Pvc is the way to go.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@mcroley591]

Nice work!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@curtisledda5616]

Use downspout connectors instead of putting the down spot right it the pipe, makes it look a lot neater love the videos

[@GCFD]

HI Curtis Thanks for watching! I don't use the adapters because I like to keep the system open for venting and in case it ever needs to be jetted. some customers do request them.

[@kodiham7532]

Looks awesome!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@bobcatculv3574]

Great job very impressive.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@stormbytes]

Nice job!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@juliehoffman92]

Fantastic

[@azimuthclark462]

I recently found your channel and love your work, i stole a lot of ideas from you!

[@GCFD]

Nice! I hope they work well for you!

[@deerhunter7482]

Good job .

[@GCFD]

👍

[@mcroley591]

That’s some tough digging in that gravel.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@freedomstar3814]

Should build up the arms and back for the beer softball league :)

[@OGSomeOne]

I did something similar but had a different outcome due to foliage. Make sure that you have louvers or drain caps on your downspouts. I didn't and after a year and a half of leaves washing down the spouts into the pipes, they were clogged. I had to dig up the end segment and put a new pipe in because the dirt and leaves had packed in so hard it was like concrete. Not had a problem since I installed the caps on my downspouts to keep big debris out of the system and that was over 7 years ago.

[@GCFD]

These homeowners have scheduled gutter maintenance now that they have a new drainage system.

[@Davesobscurevideos]

Just stumbled upon your channel. I had a hunch you were a fellow North Carolinian based on your accent and the environment ;)

[@GCFD]

👍

[@radagast6682]

Good information on the whole but, those are downspouts. The gutters are up on the roof. My Grandpa ran his to a cistern, to use for watering his garden.

[@GCFD]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Terry! 👍

[@deanbaker1905]

Correct I’ve always heard them referred to as downspouts or leader drains. The gutter is on the facia board under drip edge.

[@GH0ST369]

All in all good work you should use some kind of crush-resistant ends and something that will prevent grass from growing over the exit points

[@GCFD]

Great idea!

[@GH0ST369]

@@GCFD if you made yourself some concrete mold and oversized the exit for an easy fit, you can even have a sleeve to insert if you have multiple sized drains PS glad you like the idea you can pour them and just trim them at the site finishing up your work and have much cleaner crush resistant edges.

[@Fetchem1222]

This is Shawn! Get merch going bro! Sch 40 over everything!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@derekblake9385]

Way better solution 👌

[@GCFD]

👍

[@AztecWarrior69]

2:18 That gravel you are talking about is supposed to have perforated drain pipes at the bottom that carry water away. They are perforations are supposed to point down so that when fine dirt gets to the bottom it does not clog the pipes. They are probably clogged.

[@GCFD]

No This house has a basement. You would never try to use perforated pipe above the footer.

[@singhA1968]

at the end can put deep basket with bottom granules. so, all water will go in ground not on the road . only in case of heavy rain overflow water will go road side .

[@GCFD]

We get so much rain that dry wells are quickly overwhelmed and you have water overflowing. They are useless in our area with the amount of rainfall we receive.

[@Wilbargosh]

Have you tried using flexi pipe between down pipe and underground PVC? It reduces the probability of downpipes detaching over time as soil moves.

[@GCFD]

Yes I have thought about it but I like keeping it PVC the whole way.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

The Terracotta pipe is a GOOD spot for the extendable auger bit to make a new tunnel under the stairs for a 4" PVC line, the problem with the Terracotta is once roots have penetrated the pipe, just cutting them out won't do anything other than buy you a few weeks of good flow before they regrow into the pipe. It really should be replaced with glued PVC if you want long-term problem free drainage...

[@GCFD]

I agree. But to replace the pipe we'd have to pull out the stairs. We were there a couple weeks ago doing some work and the pipe is still working well. Hopefully we will get some rain so I can finish that video.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

@@GCFD Why pull the stairs? Don't you still have the drill powered auger with extension segments that you use to drill under slabs and sidewalks? Use that to make a new hole under the stairs for the PVC... Admittedly, you'd have to dig a pit on either side of the stairs for the driller, but that's what mini-excavators are for...

[@MyWorld-xw6ic]

This is new to me as im trying to fix some drainage issues im having si forgive my simple question. How do i connect pvc pipe and elbows? They’re the same size 3”. I thought they’d fit together like a puzzle.

[@davidfrisch5538]

How do you handle leafs and small sticks not creating a back up .. I used pvc and this winter was a mess it all froze up and when the freeze and thaw cycle would happen it would just overfill and dumpin back by the house where the pvc an gutter meet because the underground stuff was still frozen .. our rain water turns to ice an snow in the matter of a few hours

[@pandk191]

I’m from england and I’m amazed you just let the downpipes empty onto the garden. All houses in england empty into the sewers. If you extend your house the new roof area has to into a soak away in the garden though

[@GCFD]

Interesting how it's done in other areas. Thank you for sharing!

[@venusalien5153]

Wouldn't that cause the sewers to overflow, rather quickly, during a rainstorm? All of those homes emptying into the same sewer line. And now you have standing "water" in the sewer lines because the sewers are flooded.

[@GCFD]

@@venusalien5153 I think he means stormwater system and not sewer

[@Tommuh87]

Same for The Netherlands. It doesn't flood with rainstorms.

[@barrygrant2907]

We've never been very good at doing what the Brits tell us to do.

[@DesignBuildFixReview]

On those existing corigated plugged setups like this, do you ever think about like a 3 inch pvc pipe right through the corrigated pipe using the existing corrigated route. If they even make 3 inch pipe

[@GCFD]

They do make 3" and the corrugated makes so many turns and bends I don't think a pipe could get through there... Great comment.

[@9ballz]

6:34 need a jetter for that.

[@raulmillan2930]

Hello, new subscriber! I was hoping you can give me some ideas. My basement flooded this past Oregon storm and freeze and I have been learning a lot from your videos. Just concerned on how to prep for a pump given that the property line grades away from the city sewage. Would love to get ideas. God bless!

[@GCFD]

Check out some of my pump install videos to see how I do it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jISyiWqjiK6Gnqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3O7gI2Fm6x4jZo

[@2badger2]

They make PVC connectors that are rectangular for a tighter fit. Is there a reason you use a round connector on a rectangular drain pipe? Thanks for sharing, great ideas!

[@GCFD]

Yes, it leaves a little gap that allows access to the system should it ever need to be jetted.

[@darrenhere5856]

that was a big job.... very nice.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Thanks for watching! - Shawn

[@sarahkim8791]

Hi, Did you install regualr pvc pipe ? or perforated pvc pipe? if you use regular pvc pipe that is redirecting topper portion of the water, what about the water in soil? Don't we need perforated pipes for the water underneath the ground? Pls let me know. I am still studying. Thank you in advance

[@CosgroveNotts]

Obviously no building regulations in this country.

[@GCFD]

That's quite a generalization. And from a youtube video?

[@CosgroveNotts]

@@GCFD yes probably a sweeping generalisations. Never seen drains so shallow though or water dumped into a road gutter. I guess when building development moves up to the next level this will change one day.

[@daveray6335]

Remember 1776? We don't like government regulations.

[@mattsimon931]

do you ever install critter guards at the end of the pipe to prevent mice/squirrels or whatever from getting up into them?

[@GCFD]

Nooo that would prevent debris from blowing out of the pipe. these pipes are self cleaning and so we keep them unimpeded.

[@weekendhomeprojects]

Do the customers let you come back and film (i.e. just call ahead of time) or do you write it up in the contract with a discount if you can film and come back during a rain?

[@GCFD]

It's funny because my customers who soo despise the rain, are so excited for the next rain after we install the system. I let them know I'll be back during the next rain and I text them ahead of time. So far everyone has been very excited about the video and enjoyed watching it once I get it posted.

[@HB-yq8gy]

Shawn, do you think that cutter for the snake was too aggressive? You know that corrugated pipe is very thin easy to puncture? However, another quality job. Thanks for sharing.

[@GCFD]

The pipe was clay under the steps with a corrugated connecting to it. But yes, we don't use snakes on corrugated and use a jetter hose instead.

[@ei513563854]

Rain catchment system next!

[@GCFD]

We've had enough here in NC.

[@ericnewton5720]

Do you ever use catch basins to reset the fall? Or just sump pumps?

[@GCFD]

No there is no way to reset the fall without creating back pressure.

[@samt5663]

The minium standard required for drainage? The best.

[@GCFD]

I agree Sam. Overkills also means you won't have problems on those super crazy hard rains.

[@JW_WS_Videos]

I would’ve added a few cleanouts along the way because of some many trees. Leaves can get into that line and back it up.

[@GCFD]

The sewer jetter fits between the downspout and coupler so we often leave off the cleanouts. I haven't had a pipe clog up because the next heavy rain blows out any debris.

[@9ballz]

4:17 how you going to clean the leaves out?

[@douglas60040]

Curious why pvc is a better alternative than corrugated pipe. For downspouts and French drains.

[@GCFD]

See my videos comparing the two. The main difference is FLOW. PVC flows better and that flow keeps debris out.

[@electricaf365]

Isn’t it obvious?

[@camaroman101]

Its smooth. The ribs in corrugated captures debris.

[@daleharvey3142]

Has the mud been manually cleaned out ?

[@JR-pd9xz]

Shawn, I happened to see your white truck on a video, and nowhere on your truck did you have your home improvement license displayed or on your web page.

[@GCFD]

Hi JJR I don't do home improvement. 👍

[@JR-pd9xz]

@@GCFD Are you licensed?

[@GCFD]

Not for drainage work. There is no license needed here.

[@NC--rc9kp]

In the UK you can't direct rainwater off your property. It has to be directed to a drain, a soakway, waterbutt etc. This wouldn't be allowed.

[@GCFD]

In NC the streets drain to the creeks.

[@spencerwilton5831]

Gate City Foundation Drainage Obviously that happens in the U.K. too, however draining surface water into local watercourses is a major cause of flooding especially in urban areas. As towns and cities have become increasingly covered with impermeable surfaces so instances of flash flooding have increased, and ground water levels are falling as we extract more without allowing rain water to soak back into the ground. In most new build properties rainwater is directed to a soakway, and large developments often include features like attenuation ponds where stormwater can soak away. Even driveways now have to be permeable or drain to a soak away rather than into the public drains. Hopefully the US will catch up one day!

[@bryanjensen7162]

In my city in the US, the rule is "To promote overland flow and infiltration/percolation of stormwater, roof drains should not be connected to streets, storm sewers, or roadside ditches unless approved by the Borough Engineer on a case-by-case basis." I would guess correcting water in the basement would qualify for approval by the Borough Engineer.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

As far as the gravel along the foundation wall. Did you go back and dig the gravel out and replace with soil? If not, I assume it isn't leaking into the basement? Is there a situation that you would recommend digging out the gravel? I ask because I backfilled against the foundation of my detached garage with gravel when I built it two years ago. I haven't seen any real issues, but you have me mildly concerned. Thanks again. Take care.

[@GCFD]

We didn't remove the gravel but that is a clear weak point. We were hoping the gutter piping would solve the problem. If you have a slab (I bet you do with a garage) then you won't need to worry about gravel against the foundation. If you have a crawl or basement then you don't want gravel.

[@GCFD]

@@junkman8742 check to see if there is wet dirt in the flower pots after a rain. If so you want to proceed.

[@michaeldiamond76]

what are you using for pipe spec? I'm in the northeast. any concerns about clean out /maintenance with leaves and debri clogging

[@GCFD]

I only use sch 40 pvc 4" I install everything with the goal of letting the water gush through the pipe. This means sloping the pipe as much as possible in every case. By doing this the weight of the water keeps the system blown out of debris. I don't want to have to clean out any of these systems so the water does it for me.

[@m60hein]

I laugh so hard everytime I see your plumbing against the house at the down spout. who taught you that? lol

[@gardenman3]

I assume the top of the channel drain come off so it can be cleaned out.

[@GCFD]

Yes of course!

[@PerdidoMX]

At 2:18 to 2:40 minutes you show gravel where it shouldn't be. Do you remove the gravel and fill with fed clay or other type of fill dirt?

[@GCFD]

We typically do that but this homeowner says there is a FD i that area and it's working fine. So we left it.

[@berg8970]

Durring heavy rains the three downspouts conected to what looks like 3'' pipe will not be able to release all the water from the gutters, I've seen this mistake done before. You should have coupled a larger diameter pipe after the second downspout to accomodate the additional water from the third downspout or run an additional pipe for that one.

[@GCFD]

HI Berg -This is a 4" pipe and with the amount of fall we built in, it handles the rain extremely well. The homeowners have had 100% results for over a year. 👍

[@leexgx]

Don't think you understand how large this pipe is and it's angled so flow is high and it won't normally block up because of the flow will flush anything out of the pipe this can cover 2 houses if needed and has in recant ish videos has done it

[@GeorgiaMedicarePlans]

Does this solve problems with a cinder block basement and a poured concrete floor?

[@GCFD]

Yes! Piping the gutter water away take a huge amount of water completely out of the equation.

[@ctg18158]

Did you clean the gutters when you installed the drain pipe?

[@GCFD]

We offer to clear the gutters out but this homeowner already had a contract with a guy.

[@JaxOutdoorsman]

How long does a solution like that last before having to get replaced?

[@GCFD]

The schedule 40 should last for several decades in the ground.

[@JWB671]

Yeah with that kind of pipe a very long time

[@MyFirstYoutubeHandle]

If there’s a root underneath those stairs, won’t that eventually be an issue with more roots growing through and chasing clogs?

[@GCFD]

Yes it's possible. Might need to snake it out again at some point.

[@MyFirstYoutubeHandle]

@@GCFD Gotcha. We use Root-X at our rentals where we have that issue, when we dont want to pay for replacing the line. Seems to work well, but eventually the roots come back.

[@jsort2596]

What size PVC are you using here?

[@kodiham7532]

Could you do the same job in the Northeast?

[@GCFD]

I think so. The pipe doesn't hold water.

[@specfever2]

Why the cleaner for the pvc joints? It's not getting inspected for plumbing and not needed.

[@GCFD]

Primer makes better joints so we use it. We've recently switched to rain-r-shine primer+glue in one.

[@bigphathairydheel9834]

Why did the terracotta pipe fail?

[@tricko2286]

Can you do this in a northern climate? Freezing?

[@GCFD]

I think you would need to get the pipes below the frost line to help with freeze/thaw heaving.

[@rhondaklemple4855]

Upstate New York will freeze up other then that perfect have this problem every winter

[@jimmeh213]

Does this work require a plumbing licence in your state? Do you need to have done an apprenticeship?

[@GCFD]

It doesn't require anything in our area. Most of my guys have a plumbing background since we use plumbing pipe.

[@jimmeh213]

@@GCFD great thanks for responding. I'm an Australian electrician and I'll be immigrating with my wife to Texas. I'm investigating what kind of work I can do over there.

[@kmhtaylor]

Should put a window box at the little vent window, if that's what i'm seeing. Isn't there a pre-existing perimeter drain? Slab built?

[@danielwebb4346]

well it has a basement so....not slab built

[@kmhtaylor]

@@danielwebb4346 I was unaware of a basement.

[@GCFD]

They have a basement and walkout garage. They gutter system is working wonderfully but they still have some surface water from the hill that is making it into the garage side after several days of rain. We may be back out there to address that, but the customer said it's not too concerning.

[@kmhtaylor]

@@GCFD - Thank you for the in-depth explanation. With all due respect to your customer, you and I, who have been professional in this business for years, know that these alleged 'Non-issues' can turn into something greater! Good work, glad to see you using geo-textile fabric! Keep up the good work.

[@ahaning]

@@kmhtaylor Can you provide some more information about "non-issues"? My house was built with a full-depth basement (8 inch block) and had horizontal cracks in the walls when I bought it 4-5 years ago. The cracks were minor according to the home inspector, so I watched them grow and recently hired a structural engineer for a professional opinion. I've contracted with a company to install adjustable reinforcement beams. I've also started to put (more) effort into getting rainwater away from the foundation - the price tag for reinforcement beams will do that to you! I've had rainwater in the basement since the day I took possession of the house, but it dried up over time and only happened in very very hard rains - maybe once or twice per year. Annoying, but not a big deal *to me* since the basement is unfinished. The simplest short-term solution was to install aluminum extensions onto the downspouts, so I've done that to 3 out of 5. All of them have underground drains but two are completely blocked. The third was able to be cleared with a drain snake, but not before breaking a few pieces of critical PVC. My plan is to retrench the PVC once I've confirmed that the downspout extensions are functional. Not sure what kind of PVC I'll use, but it sounds like Schedule 40 is a good option.

[@toddgolling5760]

Do you have a camera system to see inside the pipe?

[@GCFD]

No I don't but I've thought about picking one up. Any recommendations on a camera setup to buy?

[@charlietuna5962]

Heck, even Harbor Freight probably has something. Might not record, but you can film the image

[@rif6876]

What's a job like that cost? Also got a kick that the employees get shovels, but the boss gets the trenching machine.

[@GCFD]

The price of pipe has increased by over 300% since we did this job.

[@damondriscoll8949]

Would this work in northern Illinois when we get freezing temps? Or will it have to be under the frost line?

[@charlietuna5962]

If it's sufficiently pitched and does NOT hold water, yes it works. Either tie into a known drain, or to daylight.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@RichWeede]

I might be missing something, but why not run the drain to the right of the driveway, right down the driveway instead of underground where it may get clogged with leaves and stuff?

[@GCFD]

The driveway slopes into the garage ever so slightly so we didn't want to add more water to it. Great comment!

[@RichWeede]

@@GCFD hard to see from the video that a buried line would be better long term than a quick above ground line pushing water down the driveway

[@lukapopovic6668]

Great job, just rodents use to make nests inside the pipes , maybe you should have put some self opening cover at the exit or metal kitchen dish wire

[@kevinokeefe8783]

rodents only make nest in non active pipes for drainage

[@lukapopovic6668]

@@kevinokeefe8783 I disagree with that

[@GCFD]

The bright white inside, the smooth wall, and the high flow make these pipes undesirable for rodents. No nesting materials will stay in the pipe so we haven't seen any problems.

[@sting1111]

How is the system kept clean and free of debri?

[@GCFD]

Because there is nothing to hold the debris in and the pipe is falling everywhere. The next big storm blows the debris out. It also helps that the homeowners are cleaning the gutters out more regularly.

[@JoseRodriguez-jr7se]

How much would a job like this cost?

[@GCFD]

👍

[@adriansmith7104]

Why even install gutters when all that water is not diverted away from the house

[@GCFD]

The gutters collect water off of the enormous surface area of the roof and send it in a concentrated place at the foundation. By piping that water we are taking it out of the equation and releasing it far from the house. 👍

[@A.Martin]

I don't understand why it is a thing to not direct storm water away from the house. Here is is a requirement, you divert to the road or a natural waterway or if you cant you can have a sump or a drainage field.

[@GCFD]

It is! The problem is everyone uses crap pipe.

[@kennethsame4739]

Cost

[@elmermt]

What kind of PVC was used for this job. is it the regular SCH 40?

[@GCFD]

Regular schedule 40!. The best stuff.

[@deanbaker1905]

@@GCFD in the Northeast we use solid PVC schedule 40 pipe for underground work. I think Sean uses foam filled schedule 40 which we can only use for interior plumbing.