Why Do You Need a French Drain?

If you are looking for information on French drains, you probably have some drainage issues in your property and are in need of help solve the problems.
Based on your location, the major drain of your home may not be in your bathroom or kitchen. As a matter of fact, it may not necessarily be a part of your indoor plumbing system. No matter what the type of drainage system installed in your home, you may hardly see it; however, it plays a crucial role in preventing water damage and protecting your home from the same.

What is a French drain?

Also known as a perimeter drain, agricultural drain, blind drain, or curtain drain, it is basically a trench filled with gravel that also includes a slotted or perforated pipe. A French drain is mainly used to direct groundwater or surface water away from a particular area, like the foundation or basement of your home. The surface level water will be directed towards the lowest point, and then allowed to flow through the gravel into the drain. The gravel also does the job of blocking excess debris from entering the drain. The water will then be collected in the slotted pipe present at the base, and directed away from your home, towards a more suitable location for infiltration.
French drains are quite different from your usual surface drains because of the fact that they collect water throughout the drain’s length rather than one single spot. They are also known to work excellently well in preventing the accumulation of water in specific spots, steeping through the ground below, thus leading to a lot of different water issues below or above the surface. Though French drains can take different forms, their ultimate function is the same.

Why do you need a French drain?

Going for French drain installation would be the ideal choice for you if:
• you have issues of water getting to your basement.
• you have surface water issues.
• you are constructing a retaining wall.
Water Getting into Your Basement
In this case, you should either go for an interior French drain installation or a deep French drain installation.
The former option will cut off water as it enters your basement, and is known to be one of the best ways to keep your basement dry. However, in case your basement is unfinished, you will have to have the interior walls removed for the interior French drain installation Charlotte NC.
A deep French drain, also known as a footing drain, will run at the footing level around your house’s perimeter and cuts off water before it can reach your basement. Deep French drain installation will be extremely easy during the construction of your house, but a lot more expensive and hard to install later.
Surface Water Issues
If you have surface water issues, you may need to choose shallow French drain installation Charlotte. Also known as a curtain drain, this particular French drain form stretches across your home horizontally, directly ascending the location you want to dry out. This drain will cut of the water and directs it around the soaked area. As the name suggests, shallow drains don’t have to be too deep; but, one thing you should remember is to use solid pipe instead of slotted ones in areas where the drain passes across shrubs or trees, to prevent roots from growing into the pipe and clogging it.

Constructing a Retaining Wall

French drain installation is also important if you are planning on constructing a retaining wall on a hillside. This has to be done right behind the first level of blocks or stones, without which, water moving downhill will get accumulated behind the wall and start weakening it.
In addition to these scenarios, you may need to have French drain installation done for the following reasons as well:

• Outdoor patio damage: Who doesn’t love their outdoor patio?! It is a great place to get together with family and friends. However, excess water can completely ruin your patio, disintegrate the pavers, and can eventually become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. With Charlotte NC French drain installation,
• you can prevent this by collecting the water before it even enters the patio and direct it in a different direction.Backyard flooding: This is another typical reason to have French drain installation, especially if you live in a region that faces heavy rains. Once again, the drain can collect all excess water and redirect the same to a different appropriate area, leaving you with a pleasant and usable backyard.