What Is a French Drain System?

During heavy rain or melting snow, the last thing you want to worry about is puddles, standing water, and large areas of mud in your yard. After all, if the water flow isn’t draining from your property, it can lead straight into your home, causing flooding and water damage. If you have a problematic area in your yard and are searching for a solution to prevent flooding and protect your home’s foundation, installing a French drain system can help.

What is a French drain system? We’ll answer that question, explain how a French drain works, tell you how much it costs, and help you decide if it’s the right solution for your water issues.

What Does a French Drain Do?

In a nutshell, a French drain uses the natural laws of gravity to guide water away from your home so that it can’t damage your foundation or basement. In 1859, a judge and “gentleman farmer” in Massachusetts named Henry Flagg French popularized the concept as a way to protect crops from excess water. His method, termed the “French drain,” grew in popularity and has been used ever since.

How Does a French Drain Work?

A French drain is simple but effective. It uses a perforated drainage pipe to collect and move water from your home down a slope to an appropriate drainage location (like a drain, water collection barrel, or gravel pit).

The pipe is wrapped with a water-permeable fabric and placed in a trench. The trench must have a downward slope so that gravity can pull the water away from your home and down to the collection area.

The pipe is then covered in stone or gravel. Water will naturally filter through the layers of gravel and stone and into the pipe, where it will flow down to the collection area. The fabric around the pipe works as a natural barrier so dirt, plants, and other debris don’t enter and clog the pipe.

When to Use French Drain Systems

A French drain system may come to the rescue by rerouting water if you’re experiencing any of the following problems:

• Recurring flooding and foundation damage caused by poor drainage
• Too much pressure on retaining walls
• Large puddles or pools on the surface that are causing a soggy yard

Poor installation can cause even bigger issues. For the best results, find your local The Grounds Guys®. With professional drainage installation from our experts, you can rest assured that the job will be done right. The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ ensures your satisfaction!

When You Shouldn’t Install a French Drain System

A French drain system is not ideal for every property. Here are a few instances when you might want to steer clear of a French drain.

Low Rainfall

French drains work best in areas that receive heavy rainfall and have recurring issues with standing water and flooding. If you don’t see much rainfall or snow, installing a French drain might not be worth the effort or expense. Consult with a landscaping company like The Grounds Guys to determine if a French drain is the right call for your property.

Not Enough of a Slope

A French drain uses gravity to move water from a high point to a lower point. That means your home must be higher than the point where you want to send excess water. If your property doesn’t have a downward slope or you can’t create one, a French drain simply won’t work. You’ll need a slope of at least 1 percent for the French drain to operate effectively.

Difficulty Trenching

For the best results, we recommend digging a trench at least 18 inches deep and 9 inches wide. Before you or your contractor starts up the trencher, always check for buried utility lines or pipes. You’ll also want to double-check that your neighborhood doesn’t have zoning restrictions that prevent you from digging. Finally, if your land contains large rocks and boulders, you may have difficulty finding an open area to trench.

Additional Benefits of a French Drain

While the main benefit of a French drain is to keep standing water away from your home, it also offers a few other useful benefits.

Erosion Control

Heavy rainfalls can strip away soil from your property and new seedlings from your yard. French drains are designed to capture and redirect water through the perforated pipe system. A properly installed French drain can reduce the volume of water that flows over and erodes your soil.

Protects Landscaping

If you’ve ever over-watered a house plant, you’ll understand how standing water can damage your lawn, shrubs, flowers, and garden. A French drain keeps excess water moving through the piping system so it doesn’t flood and damage your landscape.

Greater Stability

Saturated soil can become unstable and put excess pressure on slopes and embankments, including retaining walls. French drains help your soil dry out more quickly during heavy rains or when snow begins to melt.

Average Cost Range for French Drain Installation

What is the cost of a French drain installation? The price tag will depend on the specifics of your project. The longer the pipe, the more trenching will have to be done, and the costlier the final outcome will be. You’ll also pay more for an interior French drain, which redirects water that seeps through walls or floors.

A good rule of thumb is to expect a cost of $40 to $100 per linear foot of pipe. While the average cost for a French drain system is $6,200, the price can vary from as low as $4,000 to as high as $13,000 or more for an interior French drain.

Is a French Drain Right for You?

If every big rainstorm or snow melt leaves standing water around your foundation or puddles in your basement, a French drain might be the right solution for you. Don’t wait. Water damage to your foundation can be extremely expensive to repair and can make your home less safe.

The best way to determine if you should consider installing a French drain is to consult with an expert landscaping team. At The Grounds Guys, our local teams can assess your property and make the best drainage recommendation based on your individual landscape. We will always be honest, reliable, and communicative. We also provide free estimates, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

Contact our lawn care experts today to get started!