Lili Cordell

Rain water can accumulate around and near your home or yard, especially if you live in an area that experiences heavy rainfall. In order to maintain your property and protect your community, it is important to invest in a storm drain system for your home. Although it can come at a significant cost, it is one of the best investments you can make for your property.

Storm Water Drainage

Many communities already have systems that redirect excess rainwater to streams or other water sources in order to protect the community from severe flooding. However, homeowners also should take the necessary precautions in waterproofing their home and adjacent property by installing a storm water drain. Unfortunately, many floods have been made more severe by the unwillingness of the community to invest in adequate storm drain.

Not only will storm drain installation serve as a protection for the community, but it will also increase the value of your property. Rainwater can erect severe damage on a home or yard. If excess water is coming into contact with your home often, the foundation or structure of your home will be damaged. Sagging floors and foundation rot are often the products of inadequate or nonexistent storm drainage.

Storm Drains

Although they can come at a hefty price, installing a storm drain is a home improvement project that you can complete yourself, with little or no help from a professional. Indeed, accomplishing the project yourself will greatly reduce the total cost that you spend on the project.

While all storm drains serve the same purpose, to redirect rainwater, there are several different storm drain types. Each is intended to drain water from specific areas. For example, concrete drain pipes installed in a large ditch will remove the water from that area in order to prevent the possibility of deep standing water. Roof drains that extend beneath the ground to a sump pump redirect the water that flows off your roof to an outside water source.

Drain Pipes

Storm drain pipes can be made of various types of materials including concrete, iron, plastic, and copper. If the pipe is to extend deep underground, it will most likely be constructed of one of the more sturdy materials like iron or concrete. More shallow installations can be completed with drainpipes made with less sturdy material.

A storm drain pipe can also be of almost any size. The amount of rain water that must be drained from the area will determine the size. Roof gutters tend to be about six inches wide, while concrete drains to drain water from ditches can be as wide as two feet.

Drain Filters

Depending on the drain that you choose to install, you may or may not decide to use filters, also known as drain covers. A drain filter can help clean the water from dirt or other particles as well as prohibit large objects from clogging the drain pipes such as animals.

Like drain pipes, filters come in virtually any size and any material. The strength of the materials that are to be filtered will determine the material. Filters that only need to strain small dust and dirt particles will naturally be made with wire mesh or something similar. A filter that needs to prevent larger objects like plants, fish, or small animals will have larger gratings and will need to be constructed out of plastic or metal.

Install Storm Drain

Installing a storm drain can be a demanding project, but most homeowners find that they can do it themselves. It usually involves digging a trench or hole as shallow as one foot or as deep as four feet. Pipe installation will usually require a trench to be dug. Other material like clean gravel or heavy dirt should cover the pipe.

When installing drains beneath the ground, be sure to install them at an angle so that the water can flow easily. Covering them with gravel will make the pipe more accessible should you need to make repairs or unclog the piping. Always make sure that any underground installation complies with state laws. It is also a good idea to contact the local electric company to make sure you will not be disturbing any underground wiring that they may already have in place.