How do you hide a French drain in a basement?

Framing around French Drain in basement

  1. Cover the french drain with the pressure treated sill plate wood so that it butts against the masonry block wall.
  2. Fasten the sill plate to the ground at the edge of the foundation and leave the french drain unobstructed.

How do you cover the end of a French drain?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So the proper way to terminate the end of a french drain. Is one dig a hole that is much bigger than the uh this elbow. And then you're going to dig down and you're going to put crushed stone.

How do you build a French drain wall?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Itself just like so. And then i want to take a piece of one inch rigid foam. And run it right up to the edge of it some are saying take a piece of vapor barrier. Run that up to it.

Should French drain be next to foundation?

Closer is not always better! Installing drainage at the correct distance from the exterior of the house and foundation is important for proper drainage. If french drains are installed too close to the foundation it can cause long-term structural problems.

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.

How deep should a French drain be in a basement?





The minimum depth is typically ​18 to 24 inches​. This depth helps capture most of the water that’s an issue. If your goal is to protect your foundation or keep water from getting into the basement, you want your pipe installed deep enough to achieve that goal.

What do you put on top of a French drain?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: With a filter fabric.

Do you cap the end of a French drain?

Cap the end at beginning of the system. Level rock 4 inches from the top of the trench. Note: If you just dump rock on top of the pipe, it will shift to one side of the trench. Make sure to keep it in the middle of the trench.

Can you cover up a French drain?

Fill the trench with topsoil and compact to completely cover the entire French drain system. When filling the area around the inlet grate, temporarily cover the grate to prevent any stones or soil from falling in after installing the French drain.

Can I cover a French drain with dirt?



Can I cover a French drain with dirt? Because a French drain has holes throughout the pipe which allow it collect water, you should not install dirt on top of the drain pipe. Installing dirt will clog the pipe and the holes, rendering it useless.

Should a French drain be against house?

A French drain should be no deeper than the foundations of a building and, in the case of older buildings, the side of the trench should slope away from the building at no less than 45 degrees. This is to maintain the lateral support of the foundations by the ground surrounding them.

Do french drains have to have an outlet?

A properly designed French drain system does not require an outlet. The water will simply soak into the soil as it flows along the perforated pipe. In fact, a French drain doesn’t require an inlet on just one end either.

Where does the water go with a French drain?



French drains provide an easy channel for water to flow through. Water runs into a gravel-filled trench, then into perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench.



Depending on your situation, the water can be diverted to:

  1. A low-lying area of your property.
  2. A drainage ditch.
  3. A dry well.
  4. The street.


Why do French drains fail?

Over time, a French drain may become clogged. Tiny soil and clay granules slip through the pores of the landscape fabric and gradually build up inside the pipe. Another common cause of French drain clogs is root intrusion from grass, shrubs, and trees.

Do French drains work in winter?

When placed below the frost line, your French drain will work in all seasons and will not suffer from issues such as frozen obstructions caused by either the freezing or thawing cycles. If you are in need of French drain services, consider Brothers Plumbing, a leader in the industry.

How do you winterize a French drain?



French Drain Winter Care

  1. Insulate Above the Frost Line. …
  2. Consider Adding More Slope to your French Drain. …
  3. Install a Dry Well at the End of your Cold-Weather Drainage System. …
  4. Create a Flare System When A Dry Well Isn’t a Possibility. …
  5. Do NOT Tie Downspouts into your French Drain.


How deep does a French drain need to be to not freeze?

A properly installed French drain will begin at the depth of the base of the perimeter beam and is installed with a 1% minimum slope (1 inch in 8 feet). This is usually below the frost line. Generally, those placed below the frost line tend to provide year-round performance, especially in cold regions.

How do I keep my drain pipes from freezing?

Be sure to run water through all your drains on a daily basis to prevent freezing. And during really cold temperatures (20 degrees and below) open up your faucets so a little stream of water is continually flowing to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Does foam pipe insulation prevent freezing?



For many residential plumbing applications a PE pipe insulation product like Tubolit® and Tundra® is the perfect option. Economical and easy to install, PE foam insulation will prevent pipes from freezing and keep hot pipes hot and cold pipes cold.

Can you pour antifreeze down a frozen drain?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You want to just put a little bit in there you don't want to flood the lines with it you want to just leave a little bit into your traps that way the water that's in there will not freeze.