How Often Should French Drains Be Cleaned?

French drains are the main reason most houses built in areas with poor drainage are still standing on their foundations. Thanks to them, homeowners can redirect excess runoff water from their lawns and direct it to a place of their liking.

If you have installed this system in your home, you ought to know that cleaning and maintaining it is as important as its purpose. This article shall educate you on the benefits of having a functional french drain, how to clean it, and how often to do that.

Let’s start by looking at the…

Benefits of installing french drains

If you have been wondering why this is the most popular solution for most homeowners facing drainage issues, here is why:

• French drains are cheap and easy to install- Yes, you read that right. Installing them is easy, and you will even be surprised that most homeowners install them themselves. And the good thing about them is that they are cheap but help avert problems that could cost you a fortune to amend.
  
  
• They offer foundational strength- By draining away all the runoff water, french drains help prevent water build-up, which could end up potentially causing both structural and foundational problems to your house. 
  
  
• French drains are durable- Just from their design, french drains can last for a long. They are structured to withstand even the strongest forces caused by the movement of water. Because of this feature, french drains have proven to be the greatest asset for homeowners who live in areas with drainage issues.
  
  
• They can enhance aesthetics- French drains are great in that they get the job done without creating ugly spots or lines on your lawn. The gravel layering creates a visually appealing and highly functional pattern, making them the perfect choice.
  
  
• You can decide the direction of the water- The best thing about french drains is that they give you the freedom to decide where the water goes. Therefore, whether you want to repurpose it or not, it's up to you. French drains will work as long as you lay the pipes sloping in the desired direction.

How often should you clean your french drain?

Due to the nature of the work that french drains do, they are bound to get clogged with debris. Because of that, it is advisable to clean it at least once a year to get rid of any debris that may be available.

And washing it is also easy. All you need to do is feed a snake into the main opening of the drain and snake it through the pipe until it shows up on the other side. 

As the snake moves, it loosens any debris that may have stuck along the drainage pipes. This makes it easy for the final step, flashing clean water through the pipe to flush out all the debris.

That said, if you find it hard to do it by yourself, don’t hesitate to contact our landscapers. We are here to help.