French drain mistakes happen all the time during installation, especially for do-it-yourselfers. Knowing the four most common mistakes will help you get through the process like a pro.

Table of Contents

What is a French Drain?

A French drain is simply just a gravel trench with a pipe placed in it that diverts water away from your house.

Rainwater runs down your roof and collects in gutters. A French drain, on the other hand, conducts water to the earth. After a downpour, for example, you could observe puddles of water forming in your yard. To fix the problem, you would utilize a French drain system.

Water seeping into your basement can also be prevented with the use of French drains. Water may pool against your foundation and seep into your basement as a result. However, using a French drain allows you to divert that water.

French Drain Mistakes

French Drains are relatively simple. However, many homeowners may make some mistakes during installation or use. Here are a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Not Using the Right Gravel

For proper accessibility and drainage of your french drain, a suitable drainage rock is needed. The fill material should be round natural stones. A riverbed is often the source of good stones that have been rounded by flowing water.

This type of stone will allow for greater material flow. When you use the appropriate rock, you won’t have to worry about chunks breaking off and blocking the French drain.

You should try to find 1 1/2″ Round Rock if possible. For a French drain, washed Round Rock is optimal.

french drain mistakes - use round rock — It’s important that you use the right kind of rock in your french drain.

2. Not Installing on a Slope

Installing the drain at a slope is required for a French drain to function effectively. The slope should be descending at a 1 percent rate. For every 100 feet of French drain, such rate equates to a 1-foot drop.

Your lot may have a naturally steeper slope, which is perfectly OK. It’s vital to remember, though, that a steeper slope generates more velocity.

As a result, erosion may occur in the discharge area. The slope of your French drain should be planned accordingly.

french drain mistakes - use proper slope diagram — Make sure you excavate the correct pitch (or slope) of your French Drain installation so that water drains into a sump, catch basin, or other drainage feature. There should be a 1-foot drop (sloping downward) for every 100 feet of pipe.

3. Not Knowing the Zoning Regulations

It’s critical that your French drain doesn’t obstruct anyone’s property or a public space. Either of these instances could result in legal repercussions. For these reasons, you should check with the local building authorities.

In your region, drainage projects may be restricted by building requirements, community rules, or zoning laws. As a result, you should double-check your plans with any local building, zoning, or homeowner’s associations. So that you don’t dig into an underground utility line, the proper authorities will mark your land with paint or a flag.

french drain mistakes - check zoning requirements — Before you start any project of this scale, you need to check with your local government office. They will have zoning regulations and requirements in place for how to properly install your French drain system.

4. Failing to Line the Trench

Fabric should be used to line your French drain. If possible, a continuous swath of water-permeable landscape fabric is most practical.

If not, you can overlap cloth pieces by at least 12″ (one foot) if necessary. However, staples driven into the ground should be used to bind both ends of the fabric. Fold the excess fabric on both sides as you lay it out and trim it later.

It’s also crucial to overlap the cloth in the proper flow direction. To put it another way, the fabric on the trench’s high side must overlap the fabric on the low side.

french drain mistakes - fabric lining — Fabric lining should always be used in the installation to prevent a big French drain mistake.

Final Thoughts

Installing any sewer or drain system is a tough, complex job. But knowing these common French drain mistakes will help your project go smoothly in less time. Even so, if you’re having trouble, find a trusted local plumber with a specialty in sewer drains and excavation. They can provide great information as well as a solid backup.

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 repairing or installing a drain on your property.

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.

Do Not Make These French Drain Mistakes (4 Big Errors!)

What is a French Drain?