Southern California homeowners know that years of dry weather can make it easy to forget about drainage. But when heavy rain finally arrives, a drainage system that hasn’t been maintained can quickly become a very expensive problem.
With El Niño strengthening and a potentially wet storm season ahead, now is the time to make sure the drainage around your home, swimming pool and outdoor structures is working the way it was designed to work.
At The Green Scene, we have been designing and installing drainage systems for more than 40 years, and we have always taken drainage seriously. Why? Because the primary purpose of a drainage system isn’t simply to eliminate puddles.
Its most important job is to protect structures from water damage.
Drain Systems Don't Stay Clean Forever
Even a properly designed and installed drainage system requires maintenance.
Over time, landscape drains and underground pipes collect leaves, dirt, insects, mulch, roots and other debris. Soil runoff can settle inside the bottom of drainage pipes and slowly reduce their capacity. A pipe that flowed freely when it was installed 5 or 10 years ago may only be capable of handling a fraction of its original flow today.
Trees and shrubs can create another problem. Roots naturally seek moisture and can enter drainage systems through joints, cracks and openings. Once inside, roots can spread through the pipe, collect additional debris and eventually restrict or completely block the flow of water.
You may never know there is a problem until the first major storm arrives—and that’s the worst time to find out.
Heavy Rain Can Expose a Drainage Problem Quickly
During a light rain, a partially clogged drain may appear to work normally. During a major storm, however, the amount of water entering the system increases dramatically.
If the pipes can’t move that water away fast enough, it has to go somewhere.
Water may back up onto patios, collect around swimming pools, flood outdoor living spaces or move toward the house. Once water reaches doors, foundations, walls or other vulnerable areas, the resulting damage can become exponentially more expensive.
Drainage maintenance is inexpensive compared with repairing water intrusion, damaged flooring, drywall, stucco, foundations, landscaping or other improvements.
Proper Drainage Starts With Proper Grading
Drain pipes are only part of a good drainage plan. Surface grading is equally important.
As a general design principle, patios, pool decks and other exterior surfaces should be pitched away from homes and structures so gravity naturally moves water in the right direction. Depending upon the material and conditions, a slope of approximately 1% to 2% is commonly used to promote positive drainage.
That does not necessarily mean every outdoor surface will be completely free of water immediately after a storm.
Small areas of temporary ponding may occur around drains, low spots or patio areas even after just hosing them down. The more important issue is whether water is being directed away from the house and other structures rather than being allowed to collect against them.
A good drainage system manages water. It gives stormwater a predictable and safe path away from the improvements you are trying to protect.
Annual Drain Maintenance Can Make a Big Difference
If you already have a good drainage system, maintenance is the key to keeping it working properly.
We recommend inspecting drainage systems before the rainy season and, when appropriate, having the underground lines professionally cleaned.
One of the most effective methods is hydro-jetting.
Hydro-jetting uses a specialized hose and high-pressure water to clean the inside of drainage pipes. Unlike simply pushing a snake through a blockage, hydro-jetting can scour accumulated dirt, mud and organic debris from the interior walls of the pipe and flush that material through the system.
When appropriate for the type and condition of the piping, hydro-jetting can help restore flow and keep an otherwise healthy drainage system performing as intended.
A professional drainage evaluation should also look for clogged drain inlets, broken or displaced pipes, root intrusion, blocked outlets, improper grading and areas where runoff is moving toward structures.
What If Your Existing Drainage System Isn't Enough?
Maintenance can keep a good drainage system working, but it cannot correct a system that was undersized, poorly designed, improperly installed or simply no longer meets the needs of the property.
If your current drainage system falls short, The Green Scene can evaluate the problem and design and install an upgraded drainage system.
Depending on the property, improvements may include adding or replacing underground drain lines, improving surface grading, installing additional area drains, catch basins, or incorporating sump pumps where gravity drainage alone is not practical.
Catch basins are especially useful because they collect surface water while also providing a place for leaves, soil and other debris to settle before that material enters the underground drainage lines. Keeping debris out of the piping helps reduce clogging and makes future maintenance easier.
Sump pumps can be used in low-lying areas where water cannot naturally flow to an acceptable discharge point. Water is collected in a basin and then mechanically pumped away from the home, pool, outdoor structure or other area that needs protection.
The right solution depends on the elevations, grading, amount of runoff and existing conditions of each property.
Don't Wait for the First Big Storm
The time to discover that your drainage system needs attention is before several inches of rain are falling—not when water is already backing up toward your house.
At The Green Scene, we’ve been designing landscapes, swimming pools and drainage systems for Southern California properties for over four decades. We understand that drainage isn’t the glamorous part of an outdoor living project, but it may be one of the most important systems on the property.
The best drainage system in the world can’t protect your home if it’s clogged—and an undersized or poorly designed system may not be able to protect it at all.
Before the heavy rains arrive, have your drains inspected, cleaned and evaluated by professionals. If maintenance is all you need, take care of it now. If your existing system needs to be upgraded, this is the time to get that work designed and installed.
Call The Green Scene now to schedule a drainage evaluation before our calendar fills up with homeowners preparing for the rainy season.
A little preventive work today could prevent thousands—or tens of thousands—of dollars in water damage tomorrow.
Protect your home before the rain comes.
