If you put the drain in the wrong place, the water could end up pooling in landscaping or around your home, leading to leaks and foundation damage.
Disadvantages of French Drains
Digging may disturb natural water flows and can cause affected water to pool. Installing a French drain may require that existing structures, such as decks and walkways, be removed, especially when using a backhoe to dig the trench.
Distance from Foundation
A general rule of thumb is that a french drain should be installed around three feet away from the foundation of a home, but this can vary depending on individual landscaping factors such as where the water is pooling and where gutters are already aligned.
Clay soil has poor permeability, meaning it doesn't allow water to pass through easily. In such cases, the effectiveness of a French drain may be limited as the water may struggle to drain away from the area efficiently. French drains may not be suitable for areas with high water tables.
Grading drainage is one of the most efficient ways of providing drainage around a home's foundation. Grading drainage involves creating a slope around the perimeter of your home that leads water away from its foundation.
Stones or Pavers: Placing pavers or stones around the foundation creates a strong physical barrier that prevents soil erosion and directs water away from your home. We recommend choosing materials that permit water to drain through them, such as porous concrete pavers or permeable natural stone.
If you put the drain in the wrong place, the water could end up pooling in landscaping or around your home, leading to leaks and foundation damage.
Dry wells are another effective alternative to French drains, particularly for properties with poor drainage. A dry well is essentially an underground chamber that collects and temporarily stores runoff water, allowing it to seep into the surrounding soil gradually.
Just like other types of drains, they are susceptible to clogging over time. Ideally, clean the French drain once every year.
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.
Be sure to only use rocks for drainage if your soil slopes away from your home's foundation. If your home is situated in the direction of water flow, keeping rocks at your home's foundation will do little to help as the water will have nowhere to flow.
Average Cost:
Installing a French drain typically costs $20 to $50 per linear foot, or about $2,000 to $5,000 for a 100-foot drain, including materials, labor, and excavation. Additional needs like a sump pump or landscape repair can raise the total to $10,000 or more.
Clogging and Blockages
Clogging is one of the leading causes of French drain failure, often due to root intrusion or sediment build-up.
If you have a severe clog and can't get it cleared or if you don't want to risk damaging the pipe with a sewer snake, then you should hire a professional French drain company near you to clean it. The average cost for drain cleaning runs between $150 and $340, with an average price of $240.
With stormwater, most likely, your drainage systems would fall under land improvements. Stormwater best management practices such as french drains, downspouts and gutter systems, bioswales, and dry wells could qualify as depreciable assets.
French drains are best suited for properties with moderate to severe water drainage issues, particularly in areas with heavy rain or poor soil drainage.
Interior French drains are meant for waterproofing the basement or draining your crawl space. They cost more because contractors must tear out the basement floor (most often made of concrete), install the drain, and then repair it.
Trench drains are beneficial for controlling floor water earlier than they can saturate the floor. In contrast, French drains seize and ship groundwater and surface water from a unique area to a septic tank or fantastic drainage device. If you are concerned about water on the surface, a trench drain is possible.
The location of the foundation as well as the weather greatly affect your foundation walls' strength. Inward movement in your basement walls may also happen depending on your soil and the amount of moisture it contains. The moister it is, the heavier it is, causing your foundation to shift.
The ideal distance for a French drain from the house ranges from 5 to 10 feet. This distance provides an adequate buffer to keep water from seeping into and around the foundation, which can be a common cause of damage.
Water is the most common cause of foundation damage. It can lead to erosion, settlement, and structural damage over time. Signs of water damage include visible moisture on walls or floors, mold growth, and a musty odor in basements or crawlspaces.
Water in the soil around a home puts pressure on the foundation that can cause cracks, leaks, and structural damage.