I get where you’re coming from with the French drain and pipe setup, but is it always necessary to go that far? I mean, those materials add up fast, and not everyone’s got the budget for a full trench-and-pipe project. I’ve actually had decent luck just using a long pool hose and draining super slowly over a couple days, moving the end around so one spot doesn’t get swamped. It’s not perfect, but it keeps the grass from getting trashed.
“sometimes the ‘extra’ steps aren’t really extra after all.”
Maybe, but sometimes they are—at least for folks who don’t mind a little mud or can’t swing the cost right now. Has anyone tried using rain barrels or big storage totes to catch some of the water first? I’ve seen neighbors do that and then use the water for their gardens. Just wondering if there’s a middle ground between full-on drainage systems and just hoping for the best.
I totally get not wanting to go all-in on a French drain setup—those costs sneak up fast, and honestly, sometimes it’s just overkill for what you need. I’ve done the slow-drain with a hose trick too, and as long as you’re patient and keep moving the end around, it does save your lawn from turning into a swampy mess. It’s not fancy, but it works.
Catching water in barrels or totes is a smart workaround, especially if you’ve got a garden that’ll benefit. I’ve seen folks use those big blue food-grade barrels—they fill them up over a day or two, then use the water for their plants later. Just gotta make sure whatever you’re draining isn’t loaded with pool chemicals if you’re planning to reuse it.
One thing I’m curious about: has anyone tried digging a shallow swale or mini-trench just to guide the water away from the house? Doesn’t have to be permanent or expensive—sometimes even just shaping the ground with a shovel can help direct flow where you want it. Wondering if that’s worked for anyone else...
- Tried the mini-trench thing last year when we had a ton of rain and needed to drain the pool.
- Just used a shovel to make a shallow channel, maybe 4-5 inches deep, sloped away from the house.
- It actually worked better than expected—didn’t have standing water by the foundation after.
- Only downside: grass grew back kinda weird where I dug, but that fixed itself over time.
- Curious if anyone’s tried laying down some gravel in those trenches to help with flow or if that just makes it messy?
Gravel in the trench can help with drainage, but in my experience, it tends to migrate into the soil or get clogged up with mud over time—especially if you get a lot of silt. I tried it near our old stone porch and ended up having to dig the whole thing out a year later. Have you thought about using those black corrugated drain pipes instead? They’re not pretty, but they do keep things moving and you can bury them under the grass. Wondering if anyone’s tried mixing gravel with those pipes for better flow?
Mixing gravel with the black corrugated pipe actually works pretty well, but you’ve gotta wrap the whole thing in landscape fabric or filter cloth. Otherwise, silt just clogs everything up—pipe and gravel both. I’ve seen setups last years if you do that, but skip the fabric and you’re digging it out again before long. Ever tried a solid pipe for pool drainage? Sometimes that’s enough if you’re just moving clean water.
