Drainage Solutions – Replacing Clogged Drain Tile Under Gravel Driveway

concretedrainagefrench-drainwater

I have a drainage pipe running around the house. One segment of it was buried right next to the garage threshold, it got completely clogged. The pipe eventually goes across the front lawn and into the ditch away.

I undug and took out the pipe:

trench1
trench2
trench3

Now, I think I have 3 options:

  1. Install new piece of flexible corrugated pipe, possibly in a cloth sleeve to minimise clogging. i.e. connect outlets on the left and right of garage entrance.
  2. Install a piece of PVC solid pipe
  3. Install some sort of storm drain channel with grate (example) at the threshold

I understand that the drain channel needs to be laid in concrete and stay solid, however I'm not sure if concrete will last well, since my driveway has no asphalt; it is gravel.

If I just bury a pipe (corrugated one or PVC for example), how can I ensure that cars passing over threshold don't crush the buried pipe over time?

What would be the most adequate option?

Best Answer

If you need water scavenging at the driveway location...

  • Lay rigid support over the pipe trench, such as a steel plate.
  • Go with schedule 80 PVC, but put a few holes in it and wrap it with landscape fabric.
  • Simply replace it and pour yourself an apron slab. It might be nice to have and would keep gravel out of the garage better.

If not, just replace that segment with rigid pipe. You could also do a combination of both, with a drain segment in the center where it's less likely to be crushed.

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