I contracted a landscaper to install drainage pipes from my downspouts on four corners of my house to the curb in front of my house. Each side is about 60 feet. When I went to test the work by putting running water from a hose in my downspout end of the pipe it took about 5-10 minutes before water came out at the end by the curb. This tells me that water is and will be pooled up in the pipe. Is this okay? It doesn't seem right to me but the contractor says he does this all the time. He used solid corrugated 4 inch black pipe. Shouldn't the water run through the pipe, drain out the front by the curb, and then the pipe should be empty? Should I care if there is standing water in the pipe all the time? I live in Seattle where it doesn't freeze very often so that's not a concern. And the grade is okay, at least enough so water doesn't back up at the downspout and comes out at the curb like it should.

Thanks,
Gary

Just wondering if anyone has opinions on this?

I don't like the idea of corregated drain pipe on gutters or other surface drainage.

Dirt, twigs, and 1/2 rotted leaves will flush from the gutters and that can build up in the groves in drain pipe. Then more stuff builds up, then some seeds get washed in and you have plants growing in them.

And if it is not sloped enough that it holds water it will hold more debrie. Also it is a good breeding place for insects.

Thanks. I hadn't considered the leaves and seeds aspect of this. It would only be a matter of time before it was clogged and had stuff growing in it.

It sounds like I'll be replacing with solid pipe and may decide to do it myself. How do I ensure that grade is correct. I've read that 1 inch per 100 feet is acceptable. How do I account for dips in my trench?

Also, I assume I can glue the pvc pipes/joints together? Any recommendation on which type of plastic/pvc pipes to use?

Sch 40 PVC, SDR 35, and Sewer and Drain Pipe (ASTM 2729 IIRC) are all used.

Sch 40 is used in side houses for DWV. Out side you can use any of the 3.

The SDR 35 and Sewer and Drain have the same OD and can be interchanged with the same fittings. S&D is the thinest and cheapest. I would use that except where you might have heavy traffic.

And it is discharged near a road where cars might part on it I would use the Sch 4 for the last section. You need an adapater to between Sch 40 and SDR 35 or S&D.

He both HD and Lowes has all 3, but you need to read the labels on the pipe to be sure wich is which.