French Drain Orlando
Thinking about a French drain in Orlando? Read this first. Central Florida’s lakes, flat lots, sandy soils over hardpan, and a seasonally high water table mean a basic “trench + pipe” often doesn’t work as advertised. We’re called in constantly after someone spent $4,000–$5,000 on a quick install that failed. That money is gone—and we still have to design and build the correct fix.
Start with the statewide overview: French Drain (Florida) Hub
Why Orlando Is Tough on French Drains
- Water table & lakes: Orlando’s lake systems and perched water over hardpan push the seasonal water table up during rainy season. A shallow French drain often sits in groundwater and stops intercepting.
- Flat grades in subdivisions: Many lots don’t have enough natural fall to daylight legally. Without 1–2% slope to an approved outlet, a trench becomes a storage tube—not a drain.
- Summer thunderstorm bursts: Pop-up cells routinely deliver 2–3 in/hr. One downspout from a typical roof can saturate a 4″ line before yard inlets add a drop.
- HOA/stormwater restrictions: Outfalls that seem “easy” (street, neighbor’s side yard) can violate rules or back up when ponds are high.
Related resources: Drainage Problems • Structural Waterproofing • Efflorescence & Slab Moisture • Forensic Structural Inspection
Orlando Drainage—By the Numbers
Most Common Orlando Mistakes (What We Fix)
- Combining downspouts with yard inlets upstream: Roof lines are under head (high inflow). They overpower yard grates, so the “French drain” never gets a chance.
- No positive outfall: On many Orlando lots, you need a sump basin + pump with a check valve to reach an approved outlet.
- Below water table: Trench elevation sits in seasonal groundwater; interception stops when you need it most.
- Wrong (or no) fabric: Landscape cloth or no wrap = fines migration, clogged voids, dead system. Use the correct non-woven and lap joints ≥ 1 ft (see FDOT).
- Illegal discharge: Outlets to the street, neighbor’s yard, or pond without permission can violate code/HOA rules and still fail when ponds are high.
Our Engineer-Designed Approach (Orlando)
- Diagnostics & elevations: Laser levels confirm fall; we identify viable outfalls and seasonal high water table constraints (especially near lakes and retention ponds).
- Hydraulic sizing: We calculate roof/yard inflows using NOAA Atlas 14 PFDS for your address. We do math, not guesses.
- Separate flows: Roof conveyance on its own solid line (sized for real gpm). Yard inlets/French drains on a separate trunk; tees only downstream with backwater control.
- Right system for the site:
- If gravity works: Properly sloped perforated line, #57 stone, non-woven wrap, cleanouts, and a legal daylight/storm tie-in.
- If gravity doesn’t: Sump basin + pump (head/curve matched), check valve, power, and piping to an approved discharge.
- Structural protections: Where groundwater drives slab/wall moisture, we add membranes & vapor control to stop efflorescence and mold from returning.
About the Engineer
Jeff Earl — Structural/Forensic & Water-Hydraulics Engineer
20+ years in structural evaluation and forensic engineering. Jeff also works as a
water hydraulics engineer—meaning he calculates, not guesses, how water moves through Orlando soils and drains.
For footer drains he follows I-Code principles (drain at/just below top of footing on ≥2″ washed stone, covered by ≥6″ stone, wrapped in a non-woven geotextile, discharged to an approved outlet).
Hydraulically, a 4″ corrugated at 0.5–1.0% slope moves about ~36–51 gpm; a 4″ smooth SDR-35 at the same slopes moves ~71–101 gpm.
A modest 2,500 ft² roof at 2.5 in/hr already produces ~64.9 gpm—enough to overwhelm a shared 4″ “French drain” before yard inlets add flow. That’s why Jeff separates roof conveyance from groundwater relief and designs for positive slope (or a sump + pump where gravity won’t work).
Neighborhoods We Serve
Lake Nona • Baldwin Park • College Park • Winter Park • Conway • Dr. Phillips • Windermere • MetroWest • Hunters Creek • Avalon Park • Waterford Lakes • Maitland • Altamonte Springs • Winter Garden • Oviedo and more across Orange & Seminole counties.
French Drain Orlando — FAQs
Do French drains work on flat Orlando lots?
Only with provable fall to an approved outlet. Otherwise the system needs a sump basin + pump or different controls (swales, exfiltration). We verify elevations first so you don’t waste money.
Can I tie roof downspouts into my French drain?
We recommend separate conveyance. One downspout during a burst can saturate a 4″ line by itself. Combine only downstream with adequate pipe size and a backwater/check device.
Where can I legally discharge the water?
Per the Florida Plumbing Code, stormwater must reach an approved place of disposal (not across property lines or into sanitary). We design legal outfalls and secure the approvals that apply.
Engineer-Designed French Drains That Work in Orlando
Orlando’s flat grades, perched water tables over hardpan, and frequent heavy summer storms make most “basic trench and pipe” drains fail soon after installation. Many homeowners spend thousands on quick installs that don’t move water because no one confirmed slope, outlet elevation, or actual inflow capacity. When the water table rises or nearby ponds fill, those systems stall or backflow.
At Foundation Waterproofing 101, every drainage design is led by Jeff Earl, licensed water hydraulics and forensic engineer. We measure elevations with laser levels, analyze local rainfall data using NOAA Atlas 14, and size piping to handle real roof and yard runoff. Roof drainage is kept on its own line, while yard French drains are separated and protected with backwater controls or sump-and-pump systems where gravity fails.
Our specifications use durable, code-compliant materials: washed #57 stone, non-woven geotextiles sized for Orlando’s sandy soils, smooth SDR-35 pipe for higher flow, and approved discharge points that meet Florida Plumbing Code and HOA requirements. The result is a system that actually drains through rainy seasons and protects your slab and landscaping for the long term.
Don’t risk a failed installation. Schedule a professional drainage assessment or call 813-614-4830 today. We’ll confirm slopes, water table depth, and legal outfall options before digging — and design a solution that works in Central Florida’s unique conditions.
External References (Authoritative)
- NOAA Atlas 14 — Precipitation Frequency Data Server (PFDS)
- Florida Plumbing Code (2020), Chapter 11 — Storm Drainage (approved disposal)
- FDOT Standard Plans — French Drain Index 443-001 (PDF)
Schedule a Free Drainage Assessment
Don’t spend $4k–$5k twice. We’ll verify elevations, water table, inflow math, and code-compliant outfalls before anyone digs—then build the system that actually works in Orlando.
???? Call: 813-614-4830
More locations: French Drain (Florida) •
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French Drain Miami