Backyard Drainage Solutions?

Hi, We have a slight hill behind our house and rainwater is *supposed* to drain thru our yard and into a community basin at the street's end (a few houses down). However, the rain water collects in the beginning corner of the yard and puddles to the point of killing all vegetation. Can anyone point Us in the direction of some solutions.


I do know that planting deep-rooted plants that thrive in moist places will help.

If you have a low sunny spot that does not drain well, a soggy stream side or a pond, you can grow plants that demand constant moisture. Wet soil allows you to grow a variety of bold, beautiful plantsâ€"like queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra)â€"that will not otherwise thrive in most gardens. Astilbes and ligularias also thrive in sun if their feet are wet. Hydric gardens are lush and colorful, and many moisture-loving plants like cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and joe-pye weed (Eupatorium) are magnets for butterflies.

Naturally wet soil is often high in organic matter and very fertile. A low spot in your yard may be wet because a clay hardpan is keeping moisture from draining away. If the soggy spot is solid clay, adding some organic matter like compost will help your garden grow. Digging in mucky soil is difficult, so choose a dry spell to do soil preparation. If the spot is always wet, spread a 10- to 12-inch layer of compost over the existing soil, and plant right into the compost.

Have a look at "French Drains", shallow trenched filled with gravel. Lining them with landscape cloth lets the water drain into them and be directed away.

You could also put drain tiles or pipe, like for a leach feild under the surface. Thast is kind of a lot of work.

Maybe you just need to have it graded. Or just start grading it yourself with a rake and wheelbarorrows of soil.

Or maybe some raized beds would help.

The soggy garden plants is a good idea too. A willow tree will suck lots of water out of the soil. And if you live in a boggy space there are many plants that like wet feet. Siberian Iris and Heuchara (Coralbells) are on my lsist.

Sounds like it may be a big job. Maybe the city, (whoever) can help if there is a real problem. If drainage is on the plans for the development they should be able to point oput how it should work.

If you can use another tree, weeping willows are great for sucking up excess water. I have a similiar problem in my back yard. I have a small creek that runs the length of my property, and I live at the base of a pretty good hill. All the rain water heads to my creek, but in the back corner, in heavy rains, it turns into a small swamp. I just planted a weeping willow and it keeps all the access water sucked up. They love water. Just don't plant it anywhere near your septic tank or you'll have problems with the roots, they can reach a good distance and they head for water or moisture. I figured its cheaper to buy a tree than put in drainage plus the tree is beautiful. Hope this helps you!

I had a similar problem while building my propagation beds. We had a few days of normal rain, and my beds were like quicksand...literally...I sunk up to my calves when I stepped in

.

I ended up going to Lowes and getting a product that is used for this problem. It comes in a 50 foot roll, is only 1" wide by about 6" tall. I chose this instead of the typical drain pipe because of the smaller ditch I would have to dig. I simply shoved my square edge spade into the ground, and wiggled it back and forth. I did this from the problem area approx 100 feet to my pond. I then went back and made it wide enough and deep enough for the rolled drainage pcs. I then covered it with the soil. Works like a charm.

We had 10 inches of rain a few weeks later, and I was able to stand in my mist beds! The sand was wet, but not saturated.

You can build a rain garden. Here's an article I wrote on how to build one:

http://pondlady.com/Articles/raingarden.html


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

We have a sump pit in our basement?

the sump pit in our basement does'nt have holes drilled in it and the bottom is solid. on the ipposite side of the basement in the spring and fall water comes in just in 1 corner. if we were to drill several holes in the basin could this resolve are issue or will it cause more issues by letting more water in


Many times when a basement slab is installed the sump basket will be installed whether it is used or not. Does your sump basket have a pump installed? If so adding holes will not hurt anything so long as the water is pumped out. But it sounds like there are no drain tiles draining into the sump basket. To help your water problems in the spring and fall: Be sure your gutters are installed, not leaking, clean, and draining 5' away from the house foundation. I installed new landscaping around my house using slopping earth away from the house, plastic on top, then riverrock over that. Keeping gutters clean are #1 and cheapest.

If you make holes, you'll get more water. Probably the most effective solution (and also the biggest pain in the butt, sorry to say) would be to make another sump in the corner that gets wet, and fill in the one you have now, since it doesn't seem to be in the right place.

"Cement" is Porous !

all water in the basement was / is supposed to drain to this sump to be ejected by the pump

no, not necessarily is the answer


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

How much condensation in attic for 90 temps is normal? Water running to corner of unit, leaking outside of?

"catch basin". Not sure why the water is going to the corner and not dripping directly below into the basin but it is seeping thru insulation and onto attic floor. I put a pan to catch it but I have to empty it every day...this is a huge pan that holds at least two gallons of water. Also, Is it normal to feel any cool air anywhere near the evaporator coil or blower unit? I have a Bryant dual ac/furnace. I rented out my home for the past 1.5 yrs. and the tenant NEVER changed the air filter, so now I fear there is a bigger issue here since I've never had the problem and I've owned the home since 2002. System is also VERY OLD.


HVAC Tech.: The unit will make lots of water out of the air. You seem to have several problems all at one time. Neglect being the greatest of them. You do NOT seem to have any major problems at present. You should call a professional technician to clean/clear the drain lines. The evaporator coil well need cleaning as well. The cold air leaks in the attic will need attention also. And the other services that are part of a spring tune-up. HE will need to check level on your secondary drain pan (what I think you call A "catch basin." Good luck!!

I suspect you have a clogged drain or some kind of obstruction from letting the condensation from the evaporator of your A/C. If you're handy I would trace the interior of the evaporator unit and make sure there are no rust holes. Also check the condensate pan and make sure there are no leaks to the drainage pipe. Overall what is happening is you have a condensate leak from your A/C. Try to trace water droplets when your A/C is running.

I've never heard of a dew point of 90 degrees unless you live in the Amazon.

probably alot of dust and or crud build up in the pan the evaporator sits on, they make cleaners for this, very caustic though. if you do not rinse them well they could eat the aluminum fins. also try blowing out the primary drain line with some compressed air. if the filter had not been changed the evaporator is probably clogged you can get a fin brush and scrape the fins before you clean them. very hot work be careful in the attic. good luck

Relevel the pan.

Depends upon the humidity.


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

How to stop rabbit from peeing on the floor?

Okay, so for the last year my rabbit has been in a cage on the floor with a litterbox. He used the litterbox regularly. I decided it was becoming to gross and too much hassle to clean the litterbox all the time so i invested in a hellish expensive and nice cage with a grated floor so he could just let go where ever he pleased. The problem is that he still insists on peeing in the corner(his box was in the corner) and it sprays out onto the wall and puddles on the floor. I put something in his favorite corner to prevent him from doing it, but he still presses himself along the edge to pee and it somehow misses the bigggg basin that it's supposed to go into. I'm unsure how to teach him otherwise since it's hard to catch him in the act and there's no consquence for peeing there so he won't learn on his own.

Any ideas, please?


They are conditioned to use one particular area. The wild ones do this in their den so that they don't have excrement all over the place. I don't see you teaching it to do it any other way.

Your best bet would be to modify the cage-add Plexiglas or something to the outside to keep the urine from spraying out.

once litter trained always litter trained. My rabbit doesn't like it when you move anything in his cage. he'll move it back. Really!!!

Super Glue

Just let him live in a hutch outside make sure they're holes cause when he goes he'll just go on the wall thinking it was his regular spot! the wall will still get wet from the rain! so there's no big deal!

well its really bad to hear this from u im sorry..personally i cant help u but i can advice u that keep an eye on the rabbit when it peeing and go behind it put ur hands so that the floor doesnt get wet ...cheers

Feed it to the dog.

yeah i would have stuck with the litterbox..

Don't put them on the floor. Rabbits are always going to be semi-wild animals and never train completely. You got the animal into the habit of going in one spot, so they'll continue to do so.

My suggestion, go back to the litter box. You got the animal, and you have to accept the responsibilities, no matter how disgusting, and take care of it.

Litter boxes are really the best option. However they make cage guards that you can lock onto the wall of the cage to prevent too much spraying. Also is your rabbit fixed? This will help with spraying.

Just construct a shield in his favorite pee corner so that it doesn't get all over the all and floor. There is no way to stop him. rabbits are relatively clean animals and therefore really don't like living in their own urine.

Rabbits are very habitual. He is used to peeing in that spot and has been doing it for a very long time. That is HIS spot just like the toilet is your spot.

Keep redirecting him but he may never learn other than what he already knows.

I'm afraid that you're not going to be able to change anything. He was litterbox trained, and, to him, that's that. Rabbits are super clean animals, and instinclively use only selected spaces to use as a bathroom.I strongly suggest putting the litterbox back, no matter how much of a hassle it was (isn't what you're going through more of a hassle???).

By the way, rabbits should NOT have grated cages... it's really horrible for their feet, as they don't have pads to protect them.

whisper "stew" in its ear

Rabbit stew.

the rabbit is used to going in a litter box you need to give it back.

You might have to move the litterbox back in, just for the meantime. Put it back in his spot, and then gradually move it so he's going somehwere else. Pretty soon THAT will be his spot so when you remove the litterbox to the grate he'll go there. It might take time - but it'll be worth it in the end not to have your floor all yucky. Good luck!

i had an angora rabbit i housebroke it with a litter box

they are like cats that way.....

Well, not really. I'm just confused as to why you would think cleaning a grated cage is better than having a litter-trained bunny. Grated cages are actually bad for rabbits. It's bad for their hocks and they can get their feet stuck in the grates. This could cause injury if they try to get themselves out.

This was listed on House Rabbit Society's website:

Is it OK to keep my rabbit in a cage with a wire floor?

Rabbits were not designed to live on wire floors--they're hard on their feet (which have no pads on the, like cats or dogs). If you must use a cage with a wire floor, you need to provide your rabbit with a resting board or rug for her to sit on, otherwise she will spend all of her time in her litterbox.

You can find cages with slatted plastic floors, which are more comfortable, or you can use a solid floor. As long as your rabbit has a litterbox in the corner that he chooses as his bathroom, there shouldn't be much of a mess to clean up.

Once a bunny is trained, their trained. He's going to go to that corner to pee everytime and you really can't stop it. My advice; see the grated cage and go back to one w/ a floor and a corner litter box.

For more info on cages and litter training, go to http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/housing.html

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html

Animals remember where to pee by sniffing for where they last peed.

The idea is to smear its urine somewhere u want it to pee, while keeping other areas absolutely urine free. After 1 week, it should get the message.

punch it.............or just stick its face in the pee and teach it not to pee there


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

How to partition a small office?

I have a small office (8x13ft) with a small wash basin given in a corner. I want to sheild the wash basin from public view. The prevalent practice here is to place the filing cupboard in front of it which I don't want to do as I feel it gives a cramped look. I was thinking of erecting a low wooden partition and painting it like the walls or should I use a screen of some sort? Help!

p.s. this office is in my workplace.


An office screen makes the most sense http://www.officereality.co.uk/office-screens-1.php


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

Sliding glass shower door for corner?

My 2nd bathroom has a very small entrance (30"). Inside, immediately after the doorway, there is probably another 3" on 1 side and another 1' on the other side of the wall where the basin is. I want to change the current wood door to a sliding frosted glass (or plexiglass) door that is able to slide past one of the corners onto the side wall. The opposite wall has a mini basin 1'x10" which i am not going to move.

I'm thinking the door will probably run on tracks that are curved at the corners and will have to be of a flexible material or else it will be jointed in many places for it to work.

Does anyone know where I can get such a door or if it even exists? Website URLs will be great.

I've seen plastic doors that can do the job but I'm looking for something as close to real glass as possible, and the plastic ones just don't do.


What about using clear plexi-glass? It would give you the clear look of glass but the bending ability of plastic. This comes in 4x8 sheets and can be cut to any shape or size you want.

The only thing that I know of is a 38" base. http://www.keystonebath.com/NeoRoundShowerKit.htm


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

I have a guest toilet with a corner basin and toilet.what kind of mirror should I decorate it with?

depends on the style your looking for. I;d try an oval mirror that has a heavy looking framing around it. hang with a tassel looking cord. hang it right in the corner . very unique


Whew, that's a tough one. Here is a corner vanity mirror:

http://www.bathroomcity.co.uk/product.asp?pid=883

It's in the UK, but maybe you can find one where you live.

Otherwise you could possibly put two narrow mirrors on each side just to give it balance.


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Spam Filtered (ID:3556931)

corner basin

corner basin