Conserving water to help your French drain. Home and business owners install underground drainage lines called “French Drains”, because they want to divert away the surface water and ground water and lead it away from the foundation of their home or business. This type of drain system is used to eliminate excess water from low areas and other venues that are always likely to have soil that is saturated. French drains are actually a very simple and effective drainage system. Traditionally, they are trenches that are filled with gravel, which is then topped with sand. These days, French drains are built with perforated drainpipes with a gravel layer around it. French drains are used because they are inexpensive and very easy to install. They could also be concealed with soil so they could just blend into your landscape. When you have a French drain, you have a specialized moat for your house. With it, you’re confident that surface or sub-surface water doesn’t reach the foundation of your house. French drains are 24 inches in depth and 6 inches wide. You install a French drain at your property’s most elevated portion if you want to intercept the sub-surface water. Then you extend the trench to your property’s lowest part, about 4 to 6 feet away from your home’s foundation. The French drain system is usually constructed in a U-shape around your home.
Grading your French drain is very important. There should be enough slope so that the water could flow where you want it to. You could check the short drains with a reliable level to make sure that the slope is there to carry the water towards the right direction. There should be at least a 0.5 % slope but 1% or 2% is much better. The gravel should be measured 0.5 to 1 inch. About 3 or 4 inches of sand should then be placed in the trench. Gravel should then be added above your sand. Make sure not to have too many high spots of gravel, this could present a problem with flow in your drainpipe. Once you have your gravel installed you can start laying your perforated drainage pipe, then cover with more gravel. If you want to make your French drain look as if its not there leave some space for some soil so grass can be planted
You should always make sure to properly maintain your French drain so it wont have any problems and that it will perform optimally. Here are some things you could do to make sure your French drain doesn’t experience any problems:
Try to avoid having any waste and debris from the entrance of the French drain system. This means that you have to be disciplined enough to dispose of your solid waste materials properly. Non-biodegradables will accumulate in your French drain and block the surface and groundwater it intends to divert. The result will be a backflow and flooding of wastewater into your home or building’s foundations.
Remove any plants near the area of the French drain. The roots will make their way into the drains and block the flow of surface or groundwater. You could call in your local drain expert to have the roots removed and kept away from the drain.
Never dump grease into your drains or into the French drain itself. Grease will solidify and clog the flow of surface or groundwater.
You should also take note that Conserving water to help your French drains is also important. If you always use a lot of water every day, then you will most likely overflow the French drain, introducing sediments into it because of the forceful entry. If you are mindful of how you consume water, you make sure that the water entering the French drain is just enough to keep it functioning ideally. Excessive water flow may be too much for your French drain to handle especially when it is raining heavily.
Remember that French drains help separate your property foundations from water damage brought upon by surface or ground water. You and your property will reap the benefits of a dry, strong foundation when you maintain your French drains.