In the end, you’ll most likely save time, money and grief by hiring a professional. Each yard of gravel can weigh between 2,400 and 2,900 pounds. You’ll also need to use more than half a yard of gravel for every 10 feet of drainage. In other words, for every 10 feet of the trench that you dig, you’ll move about 1,500 pounds of soil. Ten feet of soil weighs approximately 100 pounds. For every foot you dig, you’ll need to excavate one and a half cubic feet of soil. For example, most French drains need a ditch that’s about a foot wide and 18” deep. Performing a French drain installation without the right experience and equipment can end up costing you more time and money.Īlso, the landscaping involved in installing a French drain is typically harder than it looks. However, if you have major flooding or you need to keep water out of your basement, you’ll most likely need the services of a professional.
#Pronlems with newly installed french drain install#
If you have a minor yard flooding issue, it’s quite possible that you can install a French drain system successfully. Problems with French drains include clogging, difficult installation, backflow, and higher installation costs if you need to add a sump pump at the same. It may call for the use of engineering skills and heavy equipment. In some instances, the installation of a French drain can present considerable challenges. In this case, you might need a pump drainage system to remedy the issue until you can correct the error. A negative slope will draw water back to your home. Our Champion Waterproofing team can offer the necessary solutions for improving the performance of your drainage system. This blockage will reduce the effectiveness of your French drain system.Īlthough it happens rarely, some homeowners even install a French drain with a negative slope. Once tree roots enter your French drain system, they’ll block the flow of water. Tree roots love standing water in your yard, even if it’s underground. Moisture attracts the natural enemy of French drains-the dreaded tree root. What’s more, it can prove extremely problematic. Pooling is the problem that you’re trying to prevent in the first place by installing the French drain. It cannot remove subsurface water properly for this reason.įinally, it’s important to avoid low spots and dips in a French drain. Resultantly, it takes more energy for water to move through the system. Other homeowners make the mistake of installing a completely flat French drain. This way, gravity will carry water out of the French drain. For example, you always want to make sure the drain system is installed on a slope. You’ll want to avoid the most common mistakes when installing French drain systems. In turn, the pooling can cause major issues and problems. Poor installation can lead to pooling in the drain system. One of the biggest problems with French drains is that the pipes can become filled with silt, sediment and other debris, causing water to overflow or even backflow from the pipes and into the. A clogged drainage system can do as much harm as not. It’s important to install a French drainage system just right. They typically can last for up to 10 years, but make sure you have your French drains inspected regularly.