The trench will need to be dug down to the footers of the foundation and be about 4 wide.
French drain along foundation.
French drains serve to collect and remove groundwater that would otherwise cause a problem.
French drains are primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations and as an alternative to open ditches or storm sewers for streets and highways.
A french drain also provides a solution for basements that admit water through the foundation.
Dig a trench around the perimeter of the foundation.
You will also need to dig a trench away from the foundation to either a percolation trench dry well or to daylight if the slope of the land allows.
In these wet basements water presses against the foundation and gradually leaks through.
Foundation drainage drain tiles also called footing drains and by some folks french drains which is not correct water flows in the path of least resistance.
Read this guide to learn more about how to install a french drain in your yard.
Foundation drains should pitch at least 4 inches in every 100 feet of length.
Depending on the size of your yard and the scale of your drainage issue you can purchase the pipes and equipment to create a french drain yourself.
A french drain also called a curtain drain is made by placing a perforated pipe in a trench that has been filled with gravel.
It is a great option if you want to direct surface water away from your home s foundation to remove surface water or to prevent flooding.
Perforated 4 inch pvc or flexible abs are the least costly and most foolproof foundation drainage conduits.
A french drain is most effective if moisture around your foundation is the main problem.
They re often used along driveways in damp areas of a lawn and around house foundations to help keep the basement or crawlspace dry.
Alternatively french drains may be used to distribute water such as a septic drain field at the outlet of a typical septic tank sewag.
Building a french drain involves digging a 12 to 18 deep channel that slopes downhill to route water toward a chosen exit point away from the house make sure you know the location of buried utility lines and pipes before digging.
When choosing this type of drainage system ensure that it s designed to collect water that s pooling below the surface not above it.
If you want to collect water above the surface choose a surface drain instead.
Digging a trench around your foundation is required when installing a french drain.