I'm planning to lay down some large stepping stones for a pathway leading to my patio, but there's a significant slope in the area where two roof lines converge. This spot tends to be quite damp after it rains, even though I don't see any puddling. I want to install a French drain that connects to an existing buried downspout pipe that drains into a gully, which helps remove water from my yard. My main concern is that I only have about 25 feet of run for this drain. Can I get away with using a 2-inch diameter pipe for this project? If so, I'm struggling to find one - could I potentially drill my own holes in PVC instead?
3 Answers
Also, if you provide a rough location (just the nearest major city) and the square footage of the area you’re looking to drain, I can help suggest the right size. But honestly, 2 inches just isn’t worth the risk of clogging with solid debris—it's not a big difference in material cost to go up to 4 inches!
I agree, a 2-inch pipe just doesn’t have the capacity you need and would likely clog easily. A 4-inch sewer pipe would be the smallest I’d recommend to ensure proper drainage.
I’ve honestly never come across 2-inch drain pipe, and I doubt drilling your own holes would be effective. I’d recommend going with a standard French drain size instead.
Plus, the specific way that holes are made in drains can help minimize clogs, which DIY drilling might not achieve.