How to Stop a Yard from Flooding

Find out how to stop a yard from flooding. Get tips on installing a curtain drain using a trench filled with stones and a perforated pipe.

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LESLIE: Next up, we’re going to take a call from Glenda who has unwanted floods in her yard.

Glenda, what’s going on?

GLENDA: My neighbor’s yard is draining into mine and I have railroad ties all the way down my side of the yard.

TOM: OK.

GLENDA: But the water is coming underneath the railroad ties from this little trench he’s dug.

TOM: OK.

GLENDA: And I don’t know how to stop that water from coming under my railroad ties.

TOM: Well, what you need to do is probably something called a curtain drain. You need to install, right above that railroad tie area, a trench that’s filled with some stone and then pipes; a perforated pipe. And what’ll happen is the water will run down; it’ll fall into that trench, get into the pipe, and then it’ll run around that area where it’s discharging now.

Now the trick is you have to find a place to discharge that pipe; so depending on the shape of your lawn, you can select a place where it’s not going to cause a lot of flooding issues and then you’ll go ahead and dump it out there. It’s called a curtain drain – it’s not too hard to install – and that’s a better option than just letting the yard flood which is going to make it muddy and make the grass tough to grow and things like that.

GLENDA: I see. OK. Well, thank you so much.

TOM: You’re welcome. If you want some more information on how to build one, you can go to our website at MoneyPit.com.