Which pipe is best for French drain?

Both corrugated and smooth PVC pipes are efficient in French drains. Ensure to use perforated pipes for better water drainage.

Should I use corrugated pipe for French drain?





A French drain can help by redirecting the water and depositing it elsewhere. French drains are typically constructed with black corrugated pipe, but there are arguments that favor using white PVC pipe for the job, as well.

Is PVC or corrugated pipe better for a 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.

What is the best pipe to use for underground drainage?

The best pipe to use for underground drainage is PVC pipe. Compared to other pipes, PVC pipes are lightweight, cost-effective, and can last up to 100 years when installed and used correctly.

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

Use Natural 1-1/2″ round rock for best drainage. Washed rock is ideal. Avoid small pea gravel as the spaces in between stone is smaller minimizing flow rates. Avoid Crushed Rock (minus) that compacts and has “fines” that will clog pipe inlets.

Do I need gravel for solid drain pipe?





In this system, the pipe is solid, and not perforated, so there’s no need to provide gravel for drainage along the length of the drainpipe. One advantage of a smooth-wall pipe is that it will drain water quickly, and if it gets clogged, you can use a drain snake to clean it out.

How deep should a corrugated drain be buried?

The trench should be 24 inches deep and 6 inches wide. To give the trench some downward slope, dig the far end lower than the end closest to the building.

Will corrugated pipe collapse?

Corrugated Pipe Installed Underground WILL Fail



It’s a matter of when will the pipe fill with dirt and be crushed underground. Driving a riding lawn mower across the earth above this pipe, even walking across it, can cause the pipe to crush and cause a water flow problem it was supposed to be fixing.

How much water can a 4 inch corrugated pipe handle?

1106.2 Size of Storm Drain Piping

PIPE SIZE (inches) CAPACITY (gpm)
4 180 163
5 311 234
6 538 487
8 1,117 1,010

How deep should a French drain be?



Dig a Trench



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.

What are 3 types of drain pipes?

Different Types of Home Drain Pipes

  • Cast iron. A mainstay of pre-1960 homes, cast iron most commonly features in vertical drains of the era, but is also sometimes found in horizontal drains and vent stacks. …
  • Galvanized steel. …
  • ABS. …
  • PVC. …
  • Galvanized steel. …
  • Cast iron. …
  • PVC.


Can flex drain be buried?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So the easiest way to blocks the image is to simply take your extra sock tie it off in a knot. Bury it down on the ground.

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.

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.

What are the different types of French drains?

There are several types of French drains, including surface French drains, blind French drains, and trench French drains. There are several types of trench drains, including channel drains, trench drains, and slot Drains.

What is the difference between a yard drain and a French drain?



The main difference between the two is that French drains capture and remove groundwater while trench drains quickly remove surface water before it can saturate the ground.

Does a French drain need an exit?

Short answer to the title of “Where should french drain terminate?” is that, ideally, the french drain will terminate to an above-ground exit on the side of a hill or at least a downwards slope, so that the water that was in the drain can escape to get into the place that normal surface runoff goes from the property.

How wide should a French drain be?

The pipes used for French drains are typically 4 or 5 inches in diameter, so you don’t need a huge trench. However, areas with large amounts of water may call for a pipe with a larger diameter, so you may need to increase the width of the trench to accommodate the larger pipe.

How far from the house should a French drain be?

How Close Should a French Drain be to the House? A good rule of thumb is to install french drains 3 feet from the house. Make sure to measure around the porch, patio and deck.

Should I use landscape fabric in 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.