St. Michaels, Md. A: Yes, French drains do work — in combination with other measures. On a slope, where water is moving underground toward a house, an exterior French drain across the property, uphill of the house, can sometimes redirect the flow around the building enough to keep a crawl space or basement dry.

Will a French drain help with surface water?

French drain systems manage surface water and protect property. Ideal for retaining walls, foundation and footing perimeter drains, landscape drains and sports fields.

What does a French drain help with?





“French drains are used to prevent flooding in yards and basements by diverting water away from your home and yard instead of letting it pool in your yard or seep back into your basement,” explains Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi.

Is a French drain a good idea?

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.

When should you use 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.

What’s better than a French drain?

A sump pump is one the the most popular and most effective alternatives to a french drain. A sump pump add lots of drainage but comes with a few downsides. A sump system requires electricity to function and can be expensive to install and maintain.

How do I get rid of standing water in my yard?





6 Ways to Get Rid of Standing Water

  1. Water wisely. Getting the right watering schedule. Sprinkler system maintenance. Choosing the right sprinkler system.
  2. Dethatch and aerate.
  3. Add compost.
  4. Build a rain garden.
  5. Add a drainage system. French drainage systems. Dry wells.
  6. Take care of gutters and downspouts.


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

between $5,000 and $13,500

Location in Home and Accessibility



Interior French drains are more expensive to install than exterior drains because they require more labor to excavate through a concrete floor. On average, homeowners can expect to pay between $5,000 and $13,500 to have a French drain installed in the home.

Do French drains increase home value?



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.

Which is better sump pump or French drain?

Sump pumps offer a few key advantages over french drains. The biggest and most obvious advantage is the amount of water they can pump and drain. Pumps like the Zoeller M53 Mighty Mate can drain up to 43 gallons of water per hour at a 5′ head height – something that french drains can’t compete with!

How long will a French drain last?

approximately 30 to 40 years



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.

How efficient is a French drain?

Properly constructed, french drains will work well to transmit water from the pipe to the exit of the pipe; however, they are not very efficient in dewatering poorly drained soils. Adequate fall means at least 2 ft lower per 100 ft of pipe or 0.25 in. per foot of slope.

Will a French drain prevent water in basement?

An interior French drain doesn’t prevent water from entering your basement. Rather, it catches water that seeps inside and channels it by gravity to a sump pump that sends the water back outside or into a drain line.

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.

How do you direct water away from a house?



How To Divert Water From The Home

  1. Clean Your Gutters. This task is both simple and free. …
  2. Extend Your Downspouts. …
  3. Create A Rain Garden. …
  4. Install A Rain Barrel. …
  5. Seal The Driveway. …
  6. Install A French Drain. …
  7. Improve The Grading. …
  8. Install A Sump Pump.


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

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Usually in two different ways. The first one will be buried around the foundation wall on the external side of the foundation.

Do french drains attract mosquitoes?

As great as french drains are for moving water, the water basins that serve as inlets are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos. They are dark, wet, and usually undisturbed except during a rainfall.

How close can a French drain be to a house?



How Close Should a French Drain be to the House? A good rule of thumb is to install french drains 3 feet from the house. Make sure to measure around the porch, patio and deck.

Can french drains cause foundation problems?

They Can Actually Damage Your Foundation!



That’s right, homeowners often install French drains to protect their foundation from hydrostatic pressure and water intrusion, but they can actually damage the concrete!

Is one French drain enough?

When it comes to working out the best size for your French drain, there is usually no need to make it larger than around two feet deep and one and a half feet across. That should be more than enough to ensure the drain can handle any moderate amount of rainfall.

Does a French drain need an exit?

Short answer to the title of “Where should french drain terminate?” is that, ideally, the french drain will terminate to an above-ground exit on the side of a hill or at least a downwards slope, so that the water that was in the drain can escape to get into the place that normal surface runoff goes from the property.