four-inchfour-inch diameter. But if the area experiences a high volume of water, it might be suitable to install six or eight-inch pipes.

What size pipe should I use for French drain?

A suitable pipe for most residential French drain systems has a 3- or 4-inch diameter. Larger 6- or 8-inch pipes may be utilized, but are most suitable for areas where there is a high volume of water that must be drained quickly.

Can PVC be used for French drain?






Quote from Youtube video: We have fittings that we can put these two pipes together. And yes they do make a fitting to do this i'll show you that in a second. But it's so much work to come back and do this and like i said tree

Is PVC or corrugated pipe better for French drain?

There is a reason all plumbing you might find in a home or business is smooth-walled, whether it’s ABS, cast iron or PVC. So, for preventing clogs and keeping your drain water flowing long term, pvc is the winner over corrugated pipe.

How big should my drainage pipe be?

Using either 3″, 4″ or 6″ drainage pipe is recommended on most residential and light commercial projects as these pipe sizes and applicable fittings are readily available and easy to install.

How deep should a 4 inch French drain be?

The trench should be about 18 inches deep and 9 to 12 inches wide. French drains need to have a slope of at least 1 percent, so the force of gravity will work for you. This means that the drain should slope down a total of at least one inch for every 10 feet of pipe.

How much gravel do I need for a 50 foot French drain?





To calculate gravel needed for a 50′ french drain, multiply the length of the trench by the width and depth. If you plan to lay down 4 inches of gravel, multiply 50 feet x 4 inches = 200 cubic feet.

Which PVC pipe is best for underground drainage?

Maintenance-free. SDR 35 thick-wall PVC piping is the best material for drainage system piping. Compared to the black, corrugated drain lines you’re probably used to, our thick-wall PVC doesn’t bend, sag, leak water, or get crushed. When properly installed, PVC drain lines will deliver decades of performance.

Can I use Schedule 40 PVC for drain?

Schedule 40 is ideal for above-ground vent lines and sewer lines in homes and has a thinner wall thickness than schedules 120 and 80.

What is the best material to use for a French drain?

Using a clean natural round stone for your drain fill material enables good flow through the aggregate and won’t clog the system. When available a great choice of stone is 1-1/2″ clean round rock. Use Natural 1-1/2″ round rock for best drainage. Washed rock is ideal.

How much water can a 4 inch pipe pass?



Water Flow Capacity in Steel Pipes (sch 40)

Pipe Size Maximum Flow (gal/min) Head Loss (ft/100 ft)
3″ 130 3.9
4″ 260 4.0
6″ 800 4.0
8″ 1,600 3.8

How much water can a 4 inch pipe handle?

1106.2 Size of Storm Drain Piping

PIPE SIZE (inches) CAPACITY (gpm)
3 87 79
4 180 163
5 311 234
6 538 487

How wide of a trench do I need for a 4 inch pipe?

Dig a 6- to 12-inch-wide, 18- to 24-inch-deep channel or trench from the first to the second stake with a shovel. Save the dirt and turf for later use. The depth must be maintained from the bottom of the channel to the string from the first to the second stake.

Can a French drain be too deep?



Gas and water lines, electrical wires, and sewer pipes are some of the things that this digging may encounter. If the drain is dug below the footer, it will cause the home to settle and it’s important not to dig too deep.

Can you cover a French drain with dirt?

Can I cover a French drain with dirt? Because a French drain has holes throughout the pipe which allow it collect water, you should not install dirt on top of the drain pipe. Installing dirt will clog the pipe and the holes, rendering it useless.

Does a French drain need an outlet?

A properly designed French drain system does not require an outlet. The water will simply soak into the soil as it flows along the perforated pipe. In fact, a French drain doesn’t require an inlet on just one end either. You can construct the drain to accept water along its length, and disperse it underground.

Should a French drain be covered with grass?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can see we took two and a half inches of root with the turf. They do have sprinklers. So even in the drought they'll be able to keep this alive over the French drain system.

Can I use landscape fabric for French drain?



Non-woven geotextile fabric is the best choice for drainage applications where water flow through (permeability) is the main concern. Non-woven landscape fabric is commonly used in French-drains, drain-fields, and erosion control.

How wide should French drain fabric be?

The fabric around the french drain should at little wider than the diameter of the trench in order to hold back surrounding soil from the gravel.

Does drain pipe with sock need gravel?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You don't need a pipe with a sock or sleeve on it what happens when you go with a pipe that has a sleeve or sock on it.