How do yard drains work in Los Angeles?

Most yard drains work using the other great force on Earth – gravity. When they are installed correctly, yard drains use gravity to divert water away from your foundation to the street or other areas that could use the water.

There are many different types of yard drains you can choose from:

• Bioswales: These are the most environmentally friendly of the yard drains. With bioswales, the actual soil is manipulated to create shallow, gently sloping channels to manage your water flow. These often follow the natural contour of the land and are lined with vegetation, rocks, or other materials. Think about your neighbor’s native garden. That probably has a bioswale designed into the yard. This is probably the most eco-friendly choice on the yard drain market, if not the most aesthetically pleasing.

• French drain: Popularized by Mr. Henry Flagg French in the 1850s, the French drain is another almost invisible type of lawn drain. This also uses the force of gravity to move water out of the way. With French drains, a trench is dug into your yard, or near your home. It is filled with permeable pipe and gravel. The idea is that water will seep through the gravel and into the pipe, where it will be whisked away to a storm drain or other suitable area for the water. These are especially good at collecting and rerouting groundwater.

• Catch Basins: These are great during the rainy season. Catch basins are specifically designed to catch and trap rainwater and run-off. Catch basins usually have an underground structure with a grate or curb inlet to capture surface water. From there, the water is sent into a drainage pipe system, allowing the water to be redirected away and prevent flooding. They have a large capacity, so they are extremely useful during flash floods. 

• Surface drains: These are easily installed and camouflaged in your foliage. With surface drains, your contractor will create shallow channels and cover them with grades or perforated lids. Like other drains, the system collects and directs water away from your home or other areas. Chances are you’ve seen these in local parks. They are usually covered up by a small, square-shaped green lid. They are relatively easy to install and have minimal upkeep. 

• Trench Drains: This is a popular and highly effective drain. Chances are you’ve seen one of these at commercial spaces, residential driveways or patios, and at industrial facilities. With trench drains, a long, narrow trench is created. A removable grate sits at or a little below ground level to collect and redirect surface water. 

Any yard drain will redirect surface water away from your home’s foundation. If you have a retaining wall or muddy patches in your lawn, you may want to consider a French drain for your issues, as that will be the most effective at redirecting groundwater. 

How do I install a yard drain in Los Angeles?

Hire a contractor. I know, I know. You found a great DIY video on YouTube. Do you have all the equipment necessary to dig out a trench? Is that something you really want to use a shovel and brute strength on? Do you even know how to measure out a slope?

Bottom line, hiring a contractor will ease so many headaches in installing a yard drain. First of all, a contractor has all the equipment necessary to install a French drain, a bioswale, or a surface or trench drain. Not only that, but they also have experience in trenching out a slope that will redirect water. For example, for a French drain to work well, you need a 1% slope – meaning, the land slopes one inch every ten feet. Are you prepared to measure that out? 

Not only will a contract have all the experience and tools, but the project will also go faster. When you hire a contractor, it will take them at most about a week to install a yard drain. How many weekends are you willing to sacrifice for this project? Hire a contractor. 

How do I maintain my yard drain in Los Angeles?

Yard drains, in general, are pretty easy to maintain. Bioswales are probably the easiest, especially once native plants take root in the system. With French drains and trench or surface drains, you do run the risk of having debris end up in the pipes. About once a year, you should check that the pipes are clear. If water can’t get through, you can usually clean out the pipe with a sewer snake or a pressure-washer. 

Ready to install a yard drain? Give us a call and let an experienced contractor take care of the job.