Why would someone install a French drain?

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.


Why would a house have a French drain?

French Drains are primarily used to drain groundwater from gardens and around the foundations of buildings. French drains are designed to move water that is trapped in the ground away or towards an area. They are best used in soil that is prone to frequent saturation from rain or flooding.

When should you use a French drain?

When You Need a French Drain
  1. When you have a problem with surface water, such as a soggy lawn or a driveway that washes out.
  2. If water is getting into your basement.
  3. If you're building a retaining wall on a hillside.


Does a French drain add value to your home?

The value of the property. Installing a French drain will increase the value of your home if you are planning to sell it in future. On the other hand, a substandard French drain may spell disaster for neighboring residences.

Do you have to maintain a French drain?

French drains need annual maintenance

Despite the design's best efforts, French drains get clogged by dirt, debris and silt. They do need to be cleaned out regularly – about once per year – to ensure that they continue to direct water away from the building's foundation.


How to Install a French Drain



What is the life expectancy of a French drain?

Generally speaking, a French drain will last approximately 30 to 40 years. However, the above-mentioned factors may shorten its life cycle and it must then be replaced by a team of foundation experts.

Who needs a French drain?

You should consider having one installed if you: Experience a soggy, wet yard consistently, where standing water is par for the course. (Not only is standing water unsightly, detracting from the function of your yard, it also attracts disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes.) Your basement floods with any rain storm.

What can go wrong with a French drain?

One of the biggest problems with French drains is that the pipes can become filled with silt, sediment and other debris, causing water to overflow or even backflow from the pipes and into the house. Cleaning the pipes is a costly job as they will need to be dug up.


Will a French drain fix a soggy yard?

A French drain may be the solution for homeowners with low, soggy spots in their lawns. This underground outlet is an unseen but effective way to channel excess water from problem areas to a targeted drainage space. Proper drainage is essential for healthy turf.

Where does French drain water go?

Water passes through the gravel or stone and through the holes in the perforated pipe. Landscaping fabric wrapped around the pipe allows water to pass through while preventing weeds, dirt and other debris from clogging the holes. The pipe carries the water to a drainage area in the yard or the municipal sewer system.

What is the difference between a yard drain and a French drain?

The main difference between the two is that French drains capture and remove groundwater while trench drains quickly remove surface water before it can saturate the ground. Here's a closer look at each type of drain.


How reliable are French drains?

French drain systems are incredibly effective because, unlike typical surface drains, they collect water over the entire length of the drain as opposed to one dedicated area. The force of gravity helps to guide water along a reliably smooth path to the desired discharge point.

How much does it cost to install a French drain in a yard?

Average Cost of French Drain Installation

A French drain can be a lifesaver for a home with water issues, but it doesn't come cheap: the average French drain cost is often between $500 and $18,000. Most homeowners pay somewhere around $5,000 to have a professional install a French drain in their yard.

Can I plant grass over a French drain?

Yes, while our grass seed varieties promote a deep root system, you can still safely plant them over a French drain. In order for the grass seed to thrive, make sure to put topsoil over the gravel.


Can you put dirt back over French drain?

Can I cover a French drain with dirt? Because a French drain has holes throughout the pipe which allow it collect water, you should not install dirt on top of the drain pipe. Installing dirt will clog the pipe and the holes, rendering it useless.

Do French drains freeze in winter?

Keep It Below the Frost Line

It is important to check the frost line and compare it to the depth of your French drain. If it is below it, then it should be fine, but if it is above the frost line, that means any moisture left within the drain will likely freeze.

Do French drains get moldy?

French drains are only installed on properties prone or likely to flood. These systems collect water and move it away from the basement walls so it won't penetrate. If it does, it can cause damp, mold, structural damage, and more problems. For these reasons, it's important to stay on top of maintaining a French drain.


How far from a house should French drains be?

A general rule of thumb is that a french drain should be installed around three feet away from the foundation of a home, but this can vary depending on individual landscaping factors such as where the water is pooling and where gutters are already aligned.

How much does it cost to install a 100 foot French drain?

For an interior basement drain, the average French drain installation cost per foot is $50, with labor making up about $35 to $40 a linear foot and material making up the rest. For 100 linear feet of installation, this makes labor about $3,500 to $4,000, making the average installation cost between $5,000 and $6,000.

How deep should a French drain be buried?

French drain depth: About 8 inches to 2 feet deep should be sufficient for many water-diverting projects, though related systems, such as those built around foundations and sub-ground living spaces, as well as the bases of retaining walls, may be deeper.


What is better than a French drain?

Swales or Valleys

Swales, also called valleys, are an alternative to French drains that capture and divert rainwater. Swales are shallow ditches that do not contain pipes. You can usually find them along a property's edge, following the natural grade of the land to direct runoff to ditches or wooded areas.

Is French drain covered by insurance?

The insurance doesn't cover the actual French drain itself, but you could add a rider for it or get a separate policy that specifically covers the actual drain. Keep in mind that if the water damage is due to a flood, you need a separate flood policy to cover that.

Do you need to put gravel under French drain?

The most reliable way to eliminate undesirable, free-standing water is to install French drains with slotted pipes, filter fabric and gravel. The old way of installing French drains is to do it without the gravel and the fabric.


Do plumbers install French drains?

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.

Which is better sump pump or French drain?

So, in conclusion, if you have 1 spot that gets water and absolutely nowhere else and you don't want to vacuum it up then get a sump pump. The rest of us need a French Drain.