French Drain (When Is It a Good or Bad Idea?)
What is a french drain? It actually has a pretty meaningful purpose. A lot of homeowners find french drains super helpful. Let’s dive into what these french drains are all about.
What is a French Drain?
A french drain is a trench that you dig in the ground where the most problematic areas are. These “problematic areas” are any area that seems to flood or hold a lot of water in your yard. A french drain is handy for that reason because it will keep your yard from flooding and your home away from potential water damage.
A french drain has a perforated pipe that goes into the trench. Then, you place gravel around the pipe to hide it underground and keep it in place. This allows it to redirect groundwater or any surface water away from any area where water is not welcome.
Know When to Use and Install a French Drain
If you have any recurring problems including flooding and foundation damage, it would be ideal to have french drains installed. These drains will be beneficial to you because it will be able to travel that excess water away from the foundation of your building. This allows the hydrostatic pressure to go elsewhere instead of forcing itself through the cracks of the foundation wall.
What is Hydrostatic Pressure?
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid that is at rest, due to the force of gravity.
A Lot of Surface Water
If there is a lot of surface water or flooding in your yard, french drains would be the right choice for you. This drain can pull in the water and redirect to a better place to go. For example, a wastewater drain or a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a great way to save water, especially during the summer months of the year so you can use that extra water for the lawn or garden. This saves you a ton of money.
Retaining Walls Under Pressure
Retaining walls are walls that are put up in order to help hold the soil in place. If the area becomes too saturated because of excess water, it causes pressure that the walls cannot withstand. A french drain is great for a situation like this because it can pull the water away from the structure relieving that pressure that was previously building up on the foundation walls.
The Cost of Installing a French Drain
The cost of installing a french drain is something that you have to take into consideration before actually installing one. Typically, a project like this is not going to be cheap. The cost of materials and the cost to hire a professional both go into the price of french drains. Depending on many factors of the project, it can be anywhere from $5,000 to $18,000.
It is best to have a professional install these drains for you. If the professional damages any electrical line or plumbing line, you can call the company to resolve that issue for you without having to worry about it yourself.
Final Thoughts
French drains can be beneficial if you find that your home struggles with flooding or water damage frequently. If your home cannot handle heavy rainfall, these drains are the answer to your problems. It’s worth looking into if you don’t want the foundation of your home or your yard to suffer from unwanted water damage or flooding.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help with any plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem.
We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.
