How to install a French drain?

A French drain is a trench that is meant to guide water away from your home. It is an underground drainage system meant to flow away excess water to a selected area. It will usually involve perforated pipes laid in a trench filled with a layer of gravel. The first part of the drain is called the drain field and is elevated. This is where the excess water or groundwater enters the drainpipes. The exit point is the lowest point and the water leaves the drain at this point.

Reasons for Installing a French Drain

The basic purpose of a French drain is to move water away from your home or property to a designated area. There are many reasons for installing it on your property:

Removing Excess Water

French drains can effectively remove excess water from around your building’s foundation and from the yards. You must install it if your house is on the side of a hill or the bottom of a hill.

Preventing Soil Erosion

French drains also help prevent or stop soil erosion. Soil erosion is a big concern during heavy rains. French drain systems create an effective drainage system to take water away from your yard.

Keeping Your Home Safe

Standing water on your property can put your family at risk. A muddy yard can be unsafe for your children. It also increases the risk of slip and fall.

Removing Toxic Substances

The lack of drainage system can cause buildup of toxic substances due to flash floods. French drains remove contaminated water away from your yard.

Some of the other benefits of installing a French drain include improved air quality and making an environment-friendly addition to your property.

French drain

Installing a French Drain

When it comes to installing a French drain on your property, it is best to allow professionals to handle the job. The main steps involved in the process are as follows:

1. LocateUnderground Utility Lines &Pipes

Before the digging process begins, it is important to know where the undergroundutility lines and pipes are located. Professional contractors will gain this information from the city officialsor check the local building codes.

2. Identify the Problem Areas

The next stage is to identify all the areas where water is likely to pool. This involves a thorough inspection of your property by experienced and certified professionals.

3. Planning Trench Route

Next, an area is selected where the water will be directed and drained off. This will usually be ditches or storm drains. Professionals will take care that the water doesn’t, in any way, move to neighboring properties.

The selected area will be at a lower point than your yard or home. The plan marks out the route the trench will follow to the end point. The experts will also work on creating a slope. This is followed by creating a trench and laying the pipe.

French drains are some of the most efficient drainage systems. They are highly effective in moving water away from your home. The drained water can also be harvested and stored for use. For example, it can be directed to septic tanks for later use or for irrigation.

Installing French drains can be a sophisticated process. It is best handled by experts with years of experience in your area. You don’t want to do it yourself, because there is a very good chance that you may do it wrong and this can cause damage to your yard and home.So, it is task that is best handled by professionalswho have specialized experience of your area and the local regulations.