Catch basin, French drain or buried downspout? How to tell which one your yard needs
Match the fix to where the water comes from: a buried downspout for roof water, a catch basin for a low spot, a French drain for water crossing the yard.
Short answer: match the fix to where the water comes from. Roof water at the foundation usually needs a buried downspout. A low spot where water sits needs a catch basin. Water that crosses the yard from a slope or a neighbor needs a French drain. French drains start at $65 per linear foot on our price list, and many yards need two of the three working together.
Start with the question that decides it
Walk the yard during or right after a rain, and ask one thing: where does this water come from? There are really only three answers.
| Where the water comes from | Usual fix | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| The roof, via a downspout | Buried downspout with a pop-up emitter | Carries roof water away from the house |
| Rain that collects in a low spot | Catch basin | A drain inlet at the low point that collects and sends the water out |
| Water running across or through the ground | French drain | A buried perforated pipe in stone that intercepts it |
Everything else is detail. A trench that fixes the wrong source will not help, which is why we map where water already goes before we dig.
Buried downspouts
If your gutters dump right beside the foundation, the cause is already known. Roof water is a lot of water in a short time, and clay around a house will not absorb it quickly. A solid pipe buried from the downspout to a pop-up emitter farther out moves it before it can pool. It is often the cheapest of the three. Look at the downspout first, even if you suspect something bigger. Drainage work is listed on our pricing page.
Catch basins
A catch basin is a box with a grate set at the lowest point of a wet area. Water enters through the grate and leaves through a pipe. It suits a bowl-shaped yard, a patio corner or a spot where several slopes meet. The weak point is the grate. Leaves and mulch can clog it, and a clogged inlet looks like a failed drain. We come back to keep the basins clear, because that upkeep is what keeps them working.
French drains
A French drain is a trench with perforated pipe wrapped in fabric and surrounded by stone. It catches water moving through the soil or across the surface and carries it to an outlet. It suits the uphill side of a home, the base of a slope, or the edge of a property where neighbor runoff comes in. Cost is by length, from $65 per linear foot. Our French drain cost breakdown shows what moves the total.
What about a dry well?
A dry well is a buried pit that holds water while it slowly soaks away. It can work in soil that drains quickly. Georgia clay drains slowly, so a pit in clay can fill and stay full, and then it is a hidden pond. That is why we look at where the water can exit before we dig anything.
Steps to figure it out yourself
- Watch the yard in the rain, not the next day.
- Stand at the wet spot and look uphill. Is the water arriving from a downspout, a slope or a neighbor?
- Check that gutters and downspouts are clear and discharge well away from the house.
- Note where the water goes after it leaves the wet spot. If it has nowhere to go, no inlet will fix it.
- Take photos of the water in the act. They help any contractor.
When to call us
Call when the water reaches the foundation, when you cannot tell which of the three you have, or when you have already tried one fix and the water came back. We are licensed and insured, and our own crew does the digging. We map where the water goes, then quote the smallest fix that solves it, and we stop and tell you before doing anything we could not see. Work like this is common in clay-heavy parts of Brookhaven, Decatur and Dunwoody. Request a quote or see pricing.
FAQ
How do I know if I need a French drain or a catch basin? If water crosses the yard from uphill, a French drain. If it collects in a low spot, a catch basin. Many yards need both, connected to one outlet.
Can a buried downspout fix a wet yard? It fixes water that comes from the roof. It does nothing for water arriving from a slope or a neighbor.
Does a dry well work in Georgia clay? Rarely well. Clay drains slowly, so a pit tends to stay full. An outlet that carries the water away is the safer plan.
How much does a French drain cost? From $65 per linear foot on our price list. Length, outlet and restoration set the total.
Prices from Atlanta Irrigation Company's price list. Updated October 2026.