Where does French drain water go?

These drains are used to direct surface water or groundwater away from a specific area, such as a home's foundation. French drains direct surface level water toward the lowest point and allow it to seep through the surface level gravel into the drain. This gravel also blocks the passage of excess debris.

Where should the water go from a French drain?

Ideally, as the excess water from one area runs down the drain, it will be distributed more evenly across your yard and absorbed. So water really doesn't need to be dumped anywhere, it just ends up in the soil along a better line of distribution.

Can French drain empty underground?

A French drain pipe has small holes in the underground pipe surrounded by aggregate rock creating an underground void that can quickly drain pooling water and move it to another area.

Where does a trench drain go?

In its simplest form, a trench drain provides an elongated surface for water to drain from a specific area, such as a driveway, beneath an un-guttered roof edge, sidewalk or similar area where water tends to collect. It's essentially a gutter that is set into the ground.

How effective are french drains?

How Effective is a French Drain System? 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.

HOW A FRENCH DRAIN WORKS

What's better French drain or trench 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. Here's a closer look at each type of drain.

Should a French drain have standing water?

Look for Standing Water

French drains are designed to collect rainwater and channel it downhill. If surface water is standing in low areas of the yard that are supposed to flow into your French drain, you have a drainage problem.

How does a French drain work in yard?

A French Drain is a pipe that collects and directs water. A wide, perforated pipe placed in the ground collects excess water and drains it away from the affected area. The pipe is covered with gravel or rock so that it's not visible, and it's angled downward to make sure drainage is smooth.

How far should a French drain be from the 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.

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. You can construct the drain to accept water along its length, and disperse it underground.

How long do french drains last?

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 often should French drains be cleaned?

French Drain Maintenance

To prevent this, clean out and snake the French drain once a year. Whether you're performing interior French drain maintenance, basement French drain cleanout or exterior French drain maintenance, you'll need an electric sewer snake. You can easily rent one if you don't want to buy it.

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.

How much water can a French drain move?

This is going to move more water than you can move with just regular aggregate. You know, whether it's 6A, anything that's like a three-quarter ranch. This here moves so much water, two four-inch pipes, they will move 240 gallons per minute each.

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.

Can you walk on a French drain?

Popular in the space between houses, drainage walkways are basically a stepping stone path installed over the top of a French drain system. They function much like a dry creek bed, but allow for walking on top.

Does a French drain catch surface water?

A French drain is a long trench with a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. French drains control groundwater and a moderate amount of runoff or surface water.

Whats 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 far will a French drain draw water?

French Drain Design

In general, though, a French drain should drop at least 1 percent in depth for every 100 feet of length.

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.

Can I run a downspout into a French drain?

A French drain is actually a network of pipes laid in trenches dug beneath the ground through which water runoff can flow. This structure can be attached to your downspouts and will work seamlessly with your existing gutters.