French drains, which are not American in origin, provide groundwater with the least resistance so that it can be diverted away from structures or low-lying sections of grass. Henry Flagg French, a New Hampshire man, gave them their name in 1861. He published a book titled Farm Drainage: The Principles and Processes and Effects of Draining Land With Stones, Wood and Plows and Especially with Tiles.
French drains are used nowadays to stop flooding from surface or groundwater. This is especially important for homeowners with a lawn, foundation, or basement. Sometimes they are used to drain liquid effluent from septic tank.
Although the basic design of a gravel-filled trench is simple, it\'s essential that it be executed well in order for it to last.
Flooding problems can be caused by sloping soil, clayey soil that isn\'t porous, or both. If your property is on a slope and your neighbor\'s house is higher up, heavy rain can cause groundwater to erode your property. Your soil may not be able to absorb the water and cause damage to the foundation of your house.
A French drain, or linear french drain installation, is an inexpensive and simple solution to this problem. It acts as a moat to protect your home by intercepting groundwater that is rushing down the slope, and redirecting it away from your foundation.
An easy DIY project is to make a linear French drain. If you are willing to do some hard work (this involves digging a trench which is very similar to a ditch), and have the right tools and materials (1 inch round of gravel, 4 inches PVC pipe with drainage holes and a trenching spade/power trencher, and a builder’s level).
Let\'s now get to the details of how to construct a French drain and how it works. You will need to dig a 6-foot-wide and 24-inch-deep trench system that is four to six feet away from your house. You should not place the drain too close to the house. If you do, water will rise up against the foundation.
Digging the main leg of the trench system must be done up the slope towards the house. It should be connected to the two pipes with 90 degree elbow joints on each side of the house for a U-shaped French drainage. An L-shaped drain requires that the main leg slope down at least 1/8 inches per foot. The second leg will be connected to the house by a 90 degree PVC elbow joint.
You want gravity to work for you when you design your drain system. Groundwater flows downhill just like a river. To make it easy for groundwater to exit, you will need to consider the natural slope of the property.
After you have decided on the layout and dug the trenches, it is time to install the gravel and pipes. To begin, you need to tamper any soil from the trench. Next, line the trench with 1 to 2 inches gravel. Then, place the PVC pipes, with holes pointed down, on top of the gravel. Fill the trench with additional gravel until it is at least one inch below the ground. You can then cover the trench with sod, or any other decorative touches of your choice. And you\'re done. You\'re done.
To prevent silt from clogging a French drain, it is recommended that the French drain be lined using geotech fabric and that the piping be covered with a geotech socks. Both of these are not recommended. Geotech fabric should be placed on top of any trench to stop sediment and silt from settling down and filling the spaces between the gravel and the surface. Groundwater flows sideways underground and not down from the surface. Groundwater is not silty. It has already had sediment and silt removed as it trickled through the topsoil. You can verify this by asking yourself if underground spring water or well water is clear. Because soil is a natural water purifier, both are usually crystal clear.
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