A French drain has a simple but essential purpose for the well-being of your home: to evacuate water from the ground before it reaches the foundation. As you probably know, humidity is terrible for foundations, walls and structures.
This is why it is recommended to install a drainage pipe, called a French drain, at the foot of a building’s foundation.
However, once installed, the French drain can become clogged by various objects that affect the proper flow of stored water.
It is therefore necessary to react quickly to prevent the appearance of moisture, bad odors or mold along your foundation.
In the long term, such a deterioration of your basement can even lead to the formation of cracks on your walls and foundations.
Find out how to avoid having to deal with such a situation.
Why inspect your French drain?
It is recommended that you inspect your drainage system at least once a year. This very simple operation allows you to check that the installed system is of good quality, in good condition and that it effectively protects your home from humidity or possible water infiltration.
It is possible to perform a camera inspection of the drainage system. Thanks to this test, it is possible to easily determine the slightest anomaly in the drainage pipes that could lead to a blockage of the French drain.
So, consider performing a drainage inspection of your home at the same time as a cracked foundation inspection.
What causes a clogged French drain?
If a problem is spotted during the check, it is essential to investigate the causes of the malfunction. These will allow you to know if it is enough to clean, repair or replace the clogged French drain.
Degradation due to time
As the months go by, the French drain can deteriorate due to the accumulation of soil, sand or mud. They seep into the openings that allow water to drain and thus block the drain.
An annual cleaning of the latter will then be necessary to establish the proper functioning of your drainage system.
Installation defects
Faults in the installation of the drainage system are common, especially at the connection. If it is positioned incorrectly then the water will not be able to drain freely and the drain will eventually fill up and become clogged.
A repair of the connection is then essential to ensure proper functioning.
The lack of a drip slope or drainage stone are also construction problems that are best avoided.
Too much vegetation
It may come as a surprise, but the roots and surrounding vegetation can deteriorate your French drain. The roots of its plants keep branching out into your soil and can end up blocking the drainage system.
Adverse soil type
We sometimes tend to forget it, but different types of soils can affect the drainage system. Soils composed of clays have high water contents, which reduces drainage capacity. On the contrary, soils composed of sand have a low water content and therefore their drainage capacity is very high.
How do you clean and repair a drain?
Don’t wait until you need to repair foundation cracks to clean or repair a drain.
In the case of a clogged French drain, it is possible to perform a high-pressure jet cleaning as for clogged sewers. It is also possible to use an electric sewer box. Uprooting the drain is also essential when the vegetation is too large. In this case, high-pressure jet cleaning is also possible.
Finally, for cleaning the French drain or repairing the piping system, we recommend that you call in professionals. If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you.
Need a Crack Repair Expert?
If you notice cracks on your foundation, it is important to act quickly. Fissure Expert offers professional foundation crack injection services throughout Quebec. Call a certified foundation crack contractor for a free estimate. We serve Longueuil, Gatineau, Laval and many other cities.