August 2018 will go down as a tough month in Cleveland’s weather history. It seems the month has been one string of hot days followed by heavy thunderstorms, a cooling off period, and then the return of hot weather.
Recent thunderstorms have produced flooded basements and backyards from Mentor to Avon Lake, and from Cleveland to Hinckley. One local resident spoke on television of his frustration after a torrential downpour. “It takes weeks for my yard to dry out, and then we get hit hard again. My backyard is like a wetlands,” he said.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you might want to invest in a French drain, a gravel-filled trench containing a perforated pipe that directs water from where it is to where you want it to be.
Installing a French drain can be tricky, and you want to get it right or it just won’t work. You start by digging a ditch about 12-18 inches wide by two-feet deep. Add about eight inches of crushed stone at the bottom of the ditch. Place a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe wrapped in landscaping fabric on top of the gravel.
You absolutely must make sure the pipe has a slope of not less than 1-inch vertical per 8-feet in length. So a 40-foot drain pipe should slope at least five inches. Ideally, you want to direct the water to a drainage ditch or sewer intake in order to keep the water from pooling on the surface.
The Plumbing Source has all the equipment and expertise needed to properly install a working French drain. We have the excavating equipment and operators who are skilled at working in close quarters. Don’t underestimate what a back-breaking job digging a trench is! Do you really want to risk a painful back injury swinging a shovel? Calling us just plain makes sense!
So if the rainy weather brings you nothing but mosquitos and a swamp-like backyard, give us a call. We’ll come out and assess your situation and give you an estimate. You’ll love having your yard back! All it takes is one call to 216-365-0600.