What You Should Know about French Drains
If large puddles appear in your yard whenever it rains, that water can affect more than the landscaping. Water can put pressure on your house’s foundation and cause it to crack. Water can then seep through the cracks and into your basement, where it can damage the walls, flooring, furniture, and items you keep in storage. A French drain can be an effective solution!
How Does a French Drain Work?
Both exterior and interior French drains can be used to prevent water-related problems. To install an exterior French drain, contractors:
- dig a trench in the yard
- place a perforated pipe inside the trench
- cover the pipe with loose stones or gravel
When it rains, gravity carries water into the trench. Water percolates through the stone or gravel and then enters the pipe through a series of small holes. The water then gets carried away to a drainage basin, a drain on the street, or another location where it won’t pose a risk to the home’s foundation.
An interior French drain is installed inside a house. If water passes through cracks in the foundation, it enters the French drain and gets carried away from the house before it has a chance to damage the basement.
An exterior French drain can be a better way to deal with poor drainage. An interior drain removes water that has entered a house, but an exterior French drain keeps water from reaching the foundation in the first place.
Can a French Drain Solve Your Drainage Problem?
Poor drainage can occur for several reasons. Sometimes a French drain is the ideal solution. In other cases, a different type of drainage system would work better. It’s essential to correctly identify what’s causing a problem before installing a drainage system.
Since 1996, New Jersey homeowners have trusted Leary’s Landscaping to resolve drainage issues and handle other exterior projects. We install French drains, as well as other kinds of drainage systems.
One of the skilled professionals on our team can pinpoint the source of your drainage problem and figure out the best way to solve it. Call us today at (609) 978-1392 to schedule an inspection and get an estimate!
