14' Deep Backyard Floodwater Complete Yard Drain: French Drain How-To Tutorial

How To Drain A Flat Yard With No Slope - Flooding Issue Solved!

In this video, titled "How to Drain a Flat Yard With No Slope - Flooding Issue Solved", we dive deep into solving one of the most common and frustrating yard problems: drainage issues in a flat yard with no natural slope. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, a homeowner battling persistent yard flooding, or a contractor looking to elevate your skills, this video is packed with insights and real-world solutions.

Overview of the Drainage Problem

The video begins by addressing a yard that floods severely after every heavy rainstorm. Recently, the area experienced over an inch of rainfall, leading to up to a foot of water pooling in the yard. This is a prime example of a yard without proper drainage, and it is common for homeowners to believe that the only solution is to fill in low spots with truckloads of dirt. However, the video emphasizes that simply adding dirt doesn't solve the issue—it merely moves the water, often towards your home or other areas of your property, exacerbating the problem.

Understanding Yard Drain Systems

To truly solve flooding issues, you need to install a proper drainage system. In this video, we focus on a dual-system approach: a yard drain system to collect bulk surface water and a French drain system to handle subsurface water and prevent soil saturation.

The yard drain system uses catch basins to quickly gather water in low points, while the French drain system consists of perforated pipes surrounded by stone to manage the water in the soil, keeping the ground firm and dry. The two systems work together to ensure that both surface water and groundwater are efficiently managed, preventing the yard from becoming a soggy mess.

The Importance of Proper Installation

One of the key takeaways from this video is the importance of proper installation. The video demonstrates step-by-step how to dig trenches and install both the yard drain and French drain systems. It explains why digging deep enough is crucial to ensure that water is collected at the lowest points and why the correct slope in the trench ensures water flows away from problem areas.

A common mistake that many people make, as highlighted in the video, is thinking that you need to fill in low spots with dirt, thinking that will solve the flooding issue. But as explained, that merely moves the water to other parts of the yard or closer to the house. Instead, by using a drain system, you're actively collecting and moving the water off your property, saving you time, effort, and money in the long run.

Advanced Techniques and Tools

This video also showcases some advanced drainage techniques, like the use of an open French drain system and a sump pump to collect and remove water from particularly troublesome areas, such as around a garage that had water damage due to flooding. In extreme cases where water levels rise significantly, having a sump pump system in place ensures that water is pumped out and discharged properly, preventing future structural damage.

Another advanced tool featured in the video is the 4-way connect catch basin from French Drain Man, which allows for more flexibility and customization in setting up a drainage system. This catch basin, along with other patented tools developed by French Drain Man, showcases how professional tools can make a significant difference in creating an efficient and lasting drainage solution.

Conclusion

By the end of the video, you'll have a thorough understanding of how to solve drainage issues in a flat yard with no slope. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step, from identifying the problem, choosing the right materials, and ensuring proper installation to prevent future flooding. It’s a must-watch for anyone facing similar challenges with their yard or for contractors looking to learn more about drainage solutions.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on drainage solutions and water management systems.

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French Drain Man – Michigan’s Yard Water Drainage Experts. Masters in the art of constructing contained French drain systems & curtain drain systems that and fix your yard drainage problems for years to come. Over 30 years’ experience in solving yard water drainage problems in Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, and St. Clair Counties.

French Drain Man / Sherwood Landscape Construction, LLC
P.O. Box 777
Almont, MI 48003
248-505-3065

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[TonyMcCartney]

I have been watching your channel for years! What a great consultant and contractor. You set the level of professionalism in your industry. Thanks for sharing all this free information!

[drowsy]

I too installed solid 4" pipes off the downspouts and french drains with open pipe / gravel at my previous house, my previous cottage and my new home. Proper water flow management (under ground) should be "minimum code" on all houses. Especially houses on flat land. Thank you for showing us how to install properly. Your team does great work!

[carltoncopp]

I watched the entire video and would have liked to see:

1) the sump pump installation including the discharge pipe setup to the front yard ditch. You said something about 4” to 1-1/2” and I didn’t follow that. Is the pump ejecting all that water through a 1-1/2” pipe?

2) the system running in a storm when you are able to capture that.

3) the garage floor after a storm to see if water getting in there.

4) the ongoing maintenance and intervals required to clean out all the catch basin bottoms.

5) A sketch of design in beginning of video and thought process going into the design.

Thanks for making the video. Nice job by you and your crew.

[RA-bgpe]

Alright! Let's buckle in, drink some morning coffee and and watch over 2 hours of yard drainage goodness.

[curtisbookhardtjr.]

I would like to say thank you very much for information u put out there for contractors and home owners! I put a lot of effort into building systems like u have taught over the years! I must say that all my systems never fail and customers are very impressed! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Thanks Mr. Robert!

[tedspens]

Your sparky runs galvanized pipe? Now that's some solid electrical! I'm really impressed with your drainage systems, watching all your videos to learn everything I can. I'd like to add yard drainage to my home repair services. Keep up the good work but mostly, keep up the awesome educational videos.

[jimrylander]

Great job! Looks like the drain system is worth more than the house.

[leemullican]

Great work FDM team! Looking forward to see this monster in action and a beautiful yard.

[pjs]

I’ve got a yard drainage job starting Monday or Tuesday this week, yard isn’t quite as severe as this but holding decent amount of water in spots. Your channel has helped me troubleshoot for so many situations for customers over the years.

[georgegingerella]

Just watched the entire video. You did a great job with the system and the video. I’ll be incorporating some of your procedures to correct a small pooling area in my own back yard. Thanks for this great video that will help all of us. PS What a GREAT TEAM you have !

[cswatson]

The best 2 hours I spent while healing from an injury. I REALLY REALLY hope you can do a video dealing with clay soil. Here in the Carolina’s and Georgia we got red red hard hard clay. I need to know the best options for piping basins and anything else before I start my project in 3-4 months.

[dayz_bob_bob_bob]

Stone by the tree with no pipe to control roots (as much as possible) was a good idea. I wouldn't have thought of it, will keep that one in mind. Thanks

[RayReed-mh]

I used to live down hill from some houses in a development and when it rained the rain would come into my backyard from the upper house. It would leave a pool size puddle but not as big as you got there.😵 i did go to my township where they had compost and i brought the low spot up like you were saying and diverted it around the house on both sides to the street in front of me. Grass finally grew in and it looked good and the water didn't build up there anymore. Never heard of the French drain at that time but yhat house is history anyway. The area where you are just putting in stone does it still drain the water out through the pipes or does it go straight through to the ground?

[whomeverwherever]

Exactly how my backyard looks after a rain in central Florida! And yes…it pools around an old shed that needs to be bulldozed down at this point. It’s funny, I just had that discussion with several people lately…from paver companies, landscape companies, gutter companies, etc. They all think more sand/dirt needs to come in and everything needs to be regraded. I said, “this is a lot of water…it has to go somewhere! Where are you going to make it go?!” I need a reputable drainage company to do what needs to be done. No more, no less. So tired of wasting money here on virtually everything because no one knows what they’re doing. They just do the basics, collect absurd money, and new issues arise from their work quickly.

Last year, I had to have two “landscape companies” regrade and lay new expensive sod in the backyard after the first one failed to complete his part of the job and ran with the money. So the second company stepped in to finish and put in sod riddled with adult molecrickets. My “yard” looks worse than it did before beginning that new sod project. So now, with the variety of fruit trees/plants and dog activity requirements, the molecrickets remaining (very hard to kill and cannot use obsessive amounts of chemicals around the pets and food), it will be hard to put any sort of sod back there. So the “pond” is growing.

[brianlukanic]

Wow just an amazing video, I've watched it once all the way through and will watch once more and take notes. One thing I don't believe you stated is exactly what the "small stone" is. Can i get away with bagged 3/4" gravel? If i order from the quarry what should i specify? (Would love to see you do a video just to go over the various stone sizes and types, along with what application is best. Round rock versus gravel edges, does it matter, etc.)

Thanks for these amazing videos my wife laughs at me always watching them but I am learning so much from FDM!

[billstathakos]

This is a perfect example of neighnours raising their yards to eliminate their water issue creating problems for the neighbour. My parents purchased their homes and the 2 neighnours to the right put in pools and affected the water flow. luckily our yard was higher than the yard attached to us. Those poor people have been dealing with water ever since. The owner has used the home as a rental property and cares very little about the problem.

[matthewolauson]

Does copper sulfate hurt pvc or sdr pipe?

[SeanHartenstein]

Absolutely amazing. Forgive my being so forward, but, what does a massive project like this cost? Just a rough ballpark figure of course. I didn't realize the extent to which yard drainage can go, and I need it, bad.

[skyhighactiondrones]

Some of the backfil rock looks like it’s smaller than the 1.5” you norm use

[gosiad]

Hello. Any chance you could explain why some pipes have sleeves and some dont ? Greetings from Europe 😊