How to install a driveway drain

Step Three: The trench drain needs to be located so when the water leaves the pavement, it enters the drain. This often means the top of the drain needs to be slightly lower than the surface of the pavement so gravity helps put the water in the drain. Step Four: Some trench drains can be place on compacted gravel. Those drains that receive vehicle traffic often need poured concrete under the drain to support the weight and prevent the drain from cracking.

Step Five: Digging the hole for the trench drain can be done with a round-point shovel, a duckbill shovel and or a long-handled cultivator tool to help loosen the soil.

Step Six: You may have to install separate trench drains to handle lots of water flow. The outlet pipes may lead to the same location, but each pipe needs to handle the flow of just one trench drain.

Step Seven: Some cities or towns may want you to connect this storm water to a municipal storm water system. Check your local regulations.

If possible, try to have this water stay on your property as long as possible. Consider designing some way to harvest this water for watering purposes or creating a leach field so the water soaks into the soil. Step Eight: Water exiting the outlet pipes can cause erosion. You may need to place larger rocks to absorb the energy of the flowing water.

Do not dump this water in a location it would not normally drain. Summary: Trench drains are not new. The most basic trench drain is just a low trench lined with rock to minimize erosion. Is the water coming from a slope , from the street level, or is it pouring out of gutter downspouts toward your driveway? Many times, gutter systems contribute to driveway flooding. If this is the case, redirect or extend gutter downspouts and other drainage systems to terminate in another area, such as an underground dry well.

There are many discrete ways to safely channel water to gardens, dry wells, or storm drains. When dealing with a sloped driveway that collects water in low areas, the best answer is to install a trench drain that cuts directly across the driveway.

This is a great solution for driveways that slope downward from street level or have a low spot. To install a trench drain in your driveway:. A trench installed in this way captures water that would otherwise run down your driveway to low areas and instead diverts it away.

In regions with heavy rain, or for driveways with a low middle, multiple drains may be required. In this case, if water is flowing onto a driveway from a nearby slope, dig a drainage trench with the right tools alongside the driveway so that it captures water and directs it away. If your driveway is surrounded by slopes on either side, you may need to dig two drains—one on each side—to capture the water and drain it away.

A swale is an uncovered, pipeless drainage ditch that collects water and distributes it naturally. To construct a swale:. A well-sloped swale will conduct water downhill, while planting it with water-hungry plants prevents erosion, absorbs standing water, and makes your drainage ditch an attractive lawn feature instead of an eyesore. Permeable paving solutions allow water to drain down through your driveway and enter the soil instead of standing on the surface.

This is an expensive and labor-intensive solution if you intend to replace concrete with permeable pavers, so it is best suited as a way to improve a flooded gravel driveway. To implement this solution:.