There are many ways to deal with the problem of standing water, but one of the easiest is to install a trench drain. These simple solutions take advantage of water’s habit of flowing down hill, conducting it away before it ever gets the chance to pool in to puddles.
They’ve got a range of applications around your property, so let’s see if a trench drain is suitable for you.
What is a Trench Drain?
Trench drainage systems go by a few different names: trench gutters, trough drains, channel drains and, of course, trench drains. Despite the different nomenclature, they’re all basically the same thing: a covered channel that conducts water away. They consist of the following parts:
- A grated top: usually metal or plastic.
- The trench: a channel below the grate. This is generally concrete but could also be plastic or metal.
- The outlet: where the water goes once it’s flowed down the trench.
These simple structures sit at a low point on your property where water tends to pool, taking advantage of gravity. They’re ideal for anywhere that suffers from puddles after heavy rain or along the threshold of garages and the edges of driveways. They’re also common around the edges of swimming pools – basically anywhere that suffers from a lot of water that you want to keep relatively dry.
How do Trench Drains Work?
Trench drains are very simple things indeed.
They’re positioned at low points or where water naturally flows. The grating allows water to enter into the channel but helps to block debris and allows you to walk over the surface unimpeded, keeping the water flowing smoothly. As the water enters the channel, it flows along towards a drainage system- it could be storm water drains, retention ponds, a sump pump– where it can either be removed entirely or at least do no harm.
Common Applications
With such a simple structure, it shouldn’t be surprising that trench drains are a common feature in many spaces. They’re easy to install, relatively cheap and above all- they’re really effective in stopping water accumulating on surfaces. Some places you’re likely to see them include:
Residential Settings
Channel drains are harnessed in the home anywhere you might face water pooling. They’re particularly common in:
- Driveways: You might see them at either end or even in the middle of a paved driveway. They’re often installed just in front of garage doors.
- Patios: As a paved area, patios are often subject to the ravages of standing water. Trench drains can sit flush with your pavers or blocks, allowing water to escape without disrupting your design.
- Pools: A channel drain installed along the perimeter of a pool means that the surfaces you’re likely to be walking on stay relatively dry, improving poolside safety.
- Basements: A trench drain can be installed along the edges of or even across your basement floor. This allows water from any source an easy way to escape before it does any real damage.
Commercial And Industrial Settings
Just like in the home, trench drains are a common sight around various commercial settings. Basically anywhere low-lying that has a hard surface can benefit from them, improving safety and longevity. The most common are:
- Parking lots
- Loading docks
- Warehouses
Public Places
Again, trough drains pop up all over the place when you’re out in public, keeping walkways, sidewalks and sports facilities dry and safe.
Types of Trench Drain
Trench drains come in all kinds of permutations, each with its own set of advantages. The inherent simplicity of the design means that they can be customized to fit a range of needs. Breaking them down by construction materials, we have:
Precast Trench Drains
Precast trench drains are basically under-surface gutters. They’re cheap, easy to install and come in modular sections allowing you to fit them to the exact dimensions you need.
Cast-in-Place Trench Drains
More complex to install but inherently customized to the space they’re placed in, these channels are built on site. This allows them to be designed with exactly the purpose they’ll be used for in mind, offering great efficiency.
Polymer Concrete Trench Drains
Polymer concrete is lightweight but doesn’t compromise on strength, making it ideal for installation in residential settings.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Drains
HDPE is incredibly resistant to corrosion and makes for a very hard wearing drainage system. This makes it ideal for use in harsher environments or where industrial contamination is a potential risk.
Benefits of Installing A Trench Drain
Installing a trench drain is a great way to manage water in low-lying problem areas. A few of the benefits include:
- Flood prevention: Water is moved away from foundations, basements and surrounding areas before it gets a chance to pool.
- Improved safety: Smooth paved areas or the walkway around your pool can often become slippery when wet. A trench drain minimizes this risk, keeping you safe.
- Durability: With such a simple structure, there’s really not a lot that can go wrong. Trench drains will last a lifetime with only very occasional repairs. If they do need to be fixed, it’s usually simply a matter of lifting out the grate and patching them.
- Low maintenance: In terms of on-going maintenance, trench drains require very little input. Occasionally taking out the grating and clearing the channel of debris is really all they need.
Considerations Before Installing a Trench Drain
While they’re generally a nice, easy choice for dealing with water in problem areas, trench drains aren’t always suitable. Even if they are, it’s not always ideal to go for an off-the-rack solution, so there are things to think about before digging the channel:
Site Evaluation
The first thing to consider is whether or not the site is suitable for installation. You’ll have to assess how water flows through the area and where it gathers. There’s no point in putting in a trench drainage system at the top of a hill- it won’t help anything.
Trench drains should be placed in low-lying areas or along flat surfaces for best results.
Material Selection
As we covered above, the channel can be made of a few different types of material. Which is best for your needs will depend on factors like:
- Environmental conditions
- Usage
- Budget
Sizing and Capacity
There’s not much point in installing a tiny drain to deal with a huge amount of water. Consider how much water will be collected when designing your drain and then add a little extra capacity to cope with unforeseen events.
While installing a trench drain is generally a pretty easy job, it’s usually best to get the professionals in to help. This ensures that the design should offer an effective solution, avoiding damage to your property.
Trench Drains vs Other Drainage Systems
Trench drains form an important part of a comprehensive drainage system, but they’re not the be-all and end-all. They’re generally best employed in concert with other drainage solutions which can complement each other.
French Drains
While a trench drain is a great solution for surface water, sub-surface problems are better dealt with by a French drain. The basic principle is the same: water enters the drain, flows along it and is discharged elsewhere. The difference is that French drains are buried below the ground, helping deal with groundwater issues.
Catch Basins
A catch basin also helps deal with surface level water and might be a good solution in space-limited areas. These work exactly the same way as a trench drain but rather than running horizontally, they run downwards. They have a much smaller surface profile, making them less obtrusive, but they require more careful positioning and deeper excavations to install.
Sump Pumps
Sump pumps serve a multitude of purposes in a comprehensive drainage system. They help deal with rising groundwater and offer a great termination point for all your other system’s discharge lines.
Water can be conducted down your trench drains (and French drains) into the sump pit. When the level in the sump gets high enough, it triggers the device which then pumps the water away into the storm drains or another collection point.
Maintenance Tips for Trench Drains
After installation, Trench drains really don’t require very much input at all. Maintaining them couldn’t be more simple:
- Regular cleaning: lift out the grate and scoop out and debris that’s found its way through. This prevents clogging and keeps water flowing freely.
- Inspect for damage: while cleaning out your trench drain, keep an eye out for any cracks or signs of damage. Sometimes soil movement can cause a section to detach or become misaligned. It’s generally a pretty easy fix though.
- Seasonal Checks: Clear off the grates and flush out the trench before the rainy season starts.
And that’s really all there is to it. With very minimal input, a well installed trench drain can help protect your property for a lifetime.