When choosing the right drainage system for your home, you are probably sorting through many different options.  French drains are a classic and popular option that many homeowners love.  What are french drains and why are they necessary?  A French drain is a pipe placed in the ground to collect rain water.  French drains are often used in yards and in basements that have drainage problems.  French drains are used to transport excess water to low lying areas where the water will do no damage.

How Does a French Drain Work?

French drains work by giving water a path of least resistance to flow through.  Water will first enter a trench filled with gravel, then through a perforated pipe, then off into an area away from your yard or home.  Trench bottoms are typically sloped 1 inch for every 8 feet you want the water to travel.  Most homeowners will choose to divert the water to one of the following: a low-lying portion of your yard, a drainage ditch, a well, or the street.  A French drain usually consists of a wide pipe perforated with holes that has been buried in the ground. Usually French drains are angled downward to keep water rolling through the pipe. To enable water to flow through the ground to the drain, gravel is placed on top of the pipe, because water flows through gravel more easily than soil.

Why Would You Need a French Drain?

French drains are popular because they are incredibly effective drainage tools. Beyond the general need for a drainage system, why might you need a french drain?

• You have standing water after most rainstorms

• You have a problem with surface water, like a driveway that is washing out or a lawn that is always soggy

• You have flooding in your basement or home

• You are planning to build a retaining wall on the side of a hill

What Type of French Drain Should You Choose?

If your problem is surface water, choose a shallow french drain or curtain drain that is located uphill of the area you want to stay dry.  This location will prevent water from continuing to flow downhill.  If you are trying to prevent water from entering your basement, install a deep french drain or footlong drain that runs along your house and stops water from getting below ground.  If you are building a hillside retaining wall, use a french drain wherever you plan on having the first set of blocks or stones to prevent water from building up underneath or behind the retaining wall.

If you have water drainage problems on your property, a French drain is an effective and straightforward drainage system that can help rid your property of excess water. Knowing what a French drain is and how it works can help you decide whether or not this type of drainage system is right for your home.

Who can benefit from a French drain?

French drains are an effective solution on properties that have chronic water drainage problems. Your property may benefit from a French drain if:

• the soil is often soggy and standing water is common.

• the basement floods regularly.

• your yard includes a retaining wall on a hillside.

What are the advantages of a French drain?

If you’re thinking about getting a French drain installed on your property, you’ll want to know what makes a French drain better than other drainage options.  Some of the advantages of this type of drain include:

• French drains have no moving parts, which can make them less likely to break down or stop working.

• If installed properly by a qualified plumber, a French drain can last for a very long time.

• In some circumstances, shallow French drains can be easy to install as a DIY project.

What are the disadvantages of French drains?

Although French drains have many good qualities, they are not entirely without issues. For example:

• Because they’re buried in the ground, French drains can be difficult to repair when they develop problems.

• French drain installation, if placed deep in the ground around pre-existing structures, can be expensive.

If you’re thinking about installing a French drain, what should you do to get started?

Before a French drain can be installed, the exact path for the drain must be planned.  The drain must run through the areas where water is the most problematic while avoiding exterior water pipes and sewer channels.  The exit point of the French drain should be a sunny, low-lying area.  The exit should be directed away from any neighboring properties to avoid flooding someone else’s property.  Work with your plumber to plan a sensible path for your French drain.