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7 Common Reasons Why Landscape Drainage Systems Fail
One of the most integral parts of a healthy and successful landscape design plan is a good drainage system. As drainage systems are costly, it is essential to ensure that yours is designed and installed properly to last as long as possible. To help prevent your drainage system from failing or to properly identify the problem your drainage system is facing, we have included a list below of the 7 most common reasons why a landscape drainage system may fail.
Table of Contents
Insufficient Drainpipe Slope
One problem that many outdoor drain systems face is an insufficient pipe slope. This means that parts of the drainage pipe responsible for moving water from the beginning and through the system aren’t positioned at the downward angle required for gravity to transport water to the end of the system. If such an arrangement occurs, the stormwater may sit or be unable to travel through the underground pipes at all, and little to no water will be drained.
Improper Drainage Components
A poorly designed drainage system with improper components will fail to work as well. If a drainage system uses improper parts, it will be unable to function or drain. For example, if pipes are undersized, water will not be able to move stormwater efficiently and may back up at the gutter downspout adapters and cause flooding around the foundation. Further, if a drain grate or other improper component was used at the end of the drain rather than a proper pop-up emitter, the system will eventually get clogged with debris gathering around the open grate.
Failed Drainage Connections and Parts
Landscape drainage also tends to fail when the connections and parts aren’t properly attached or secured. If the attachments of drainage parts fail, unwanted stormwater will flood the underground, resulting in a muddy yard. Systems can also fail when PVC drainage pipe connections aren’t properly glued or secured or when corrugated drainage pipe connections are attached with a screw and drain tile tape.
Damaged Pipe
When underground pipes get damaged, they can easily prevent your system from working. For example, underground pipes may be smashed or broken from heavy equipment driving over the top of them, digging into the ground to repair a sprinkler system, or even driving a stake or yard sign into the ground. As for French drains, if the geotextile fabric that protects the pipe is damaged, it will let soil and debris enter the perforations of the drainpipe, preventing the free flow of water.
Debris Obstruction
Because drainage systems exist outdoors, they can often become clogged with debris and fail to operate over time. This can occur when leaves and shingle dust travel down the gutters and through downspouts, obstructing the system. In order to prevent this, you should have a catch basin installed somewhere along the lines to help clear debris and flush the lines.
Clogged Gutters
Another common cause of yard drain failure is clogged gutters and downspouts. If a gutter system is unable to deliver water from the roof of your home, your system will fail to operate. Because of this, it is important to make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear in order to avoid any blockage and prevent yard flooding.
Poorly Graded Soil
Lastly, the failure of yard drains can also be a product of poor soil grading and erosion. In order to deliver unwanted stormwater and excess irrigation water to collection points throughout the yard, known as catch basins or surface drains, your outdoor drainage system relies on proper yard grading. If soil is improperly graded, the water will fail to enter the drainage system and will instead pool in low spots around your property. In order to prevent this, make sure that your soil is not eroded or sloped away from these surface water collection points.