How to Install a French Drain

Today we install a french drain using 4" perforated pipe, the purpose of this drain is to collect both surface water and ground water and keep the lawn dry and also to keep water away from the foundation of the house

Our Address: Outdoors with the Morgans
P.O. Box 2140
Cranberry Twp. Pa 16066

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OUR EQUIPMENT LIST
Kubota KX-057-4 Excavator
Kubota MX 5400 Utility Tractor
Kubota BX 23S Subcompact Tractor
ExMark Lazer Z S Series Zero Turn Mower
Wolfe Ridge Pro 22C Commercial Log Splitter
Woodmizer LX 150 Sawmill

We live in Western Pa. and Have around 100 Acres of Land, About 1/2 is ours the rest is my moms, We have 4 kids and two grandchildren, 3 Golden Retrievers and one Cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We sell firewood and soon will be selling hardwood lumber.

[jackfairweather]

When I graduated high school 48 years ago I started doing construction work for a local contractor in Lewisburg, PA. One of the more distasteful jobs I was assigned was installing a French drain around the exterior of a new house. I had to do the job, by myself and by hand in super hot, humid July weather. Hand digging the trench for the drain tile and wheeling that gravel down into the foundation pit made me do some serious thinking about my future. It was that job which made me decide that college wasn't a bad idea. The rest is history!

[Yeti]

Good morning. We've had over 7 inches of rain here in Tucson in July alone. But the desert has soaked it all up. Have a day!

[rphiliprogers]

Good morning everyone. 75º in Kansas City. Expected to hit 100º this afternoon. Stay safe, be humble & kind and have a day.

[jimkempton]

Watching you utilize that excavator every time you turn around gives me a thrill like I almost own one myself. I could afford one finally now, but alas I’m too darn old to justify pulling the trigger. You owning that excavator is akin to having a hundred good men ready to do you’re bidding at any given time. Buying that excavator at this time in you’re life might be the wisest decision you’ve ever made ( not counting choosing to get a date with that gal you spotted working in that pizza shop).

[philsmock]

Phil here from NE Indiana. We use the black corrugated tile around here for all the farm fields. No stone. Dig a trench, put the tile in, cover it up and you're done. Doesn't take long to use up 1, 000 foot roll of tile. It is interesting how different parts of the country do things differently. Around here a hill is a little bit higher than your average pitcher's mound. That's not exactly true but the hills you have there so much different than here. You have some serious hills there in PA. I have 48 acres and I can pretty much see all of it from my house. I hope you will show us how this french drain works the next big rain. Thanks for sharing.

[raysmith]

I have a plate in my neck and can't look back very well. I'm jealous of how often I see Mike working backing up.

[rexwoodall]

Rex here, Mike. Once again I learned how to install this kind of pipe and the best way to seat and fill the trench. You provide all this knowledge for free and to our benefit! Thank you, Mike!

[timcahoon]

Like Julie Andrew’s sang in the Sound of Music, These are a few of my favorite things. Dump trailer, stone, excavator, zero turn mower. Then top it off backing up trailer on a very long driveway! Mike is having a great day! 😁😁

[LostInThezone]

It would be nice if you could come back in a week or so and show us how it's working.

[tommyordoyne]

Good evening from Glacier National Park. Have a productive day.

[robertdean]

Have put in alot of french drain pipe over the years. We have very sandy soil and have done pretty much the same thing you did, but do to soil, we have used geo textile before putting rock, , then pipe in trench. Works very well. Stay safe and a big hello to the family. See you on the next video!!!

[Sventy]

I like that technique where you knock the excess into the ditch. I'll try to remember that next time I'm digging a French drain with the bx23s.

[devries]

Grandson Colton and I put a french drain in 2 years ago. He was 3, he’s 5 now. We still enjoy standing at the outflow and watching the water run out during a storm. Get the umbrella ready, you’ll be doing the same.

[DKanon]

Good video and explanation. You'll be able to tell from my comment I don't know a thing about French Drains.

As usual, I learned something useful ... holes go on the bottom of the pipe ... I would have done that wrong. I always thought you wanted the water to seep in from the top . Thanks for demonstrating the right way.

[daviddelaet]

Mike is never far away from another load of stone. Good video.

[mikeelwood]

Another useful project, protecting your investment in the brick house and property. The guy loves his gravel!

[NeedsMoreToys]

Mike makes it easy with that nice big equipment. I’m jealous. If you came here to learn how to install a French drain I highly recommend you also watch the channel from “French drain man”. He covers every possible scenario you may face with water troubles, where you can get supplies and why French drains fail. He has very, very good content on this.

[Hallnout]

Morning Morgans and friends. Almost Friday! Have a day

[larrygarner]

Thanks Mike I always enjoy the videos. Hope you and all the family are doing well.

[danwilliams]

You rock! lol. Spent yesterday on my Stihl saw clearing my roads of fallen trees after a big windstorm. Plenty of "I wonder what Mike Morgan would do?" thinking as we worked. Thanks mate.