To keep the foundation of a home strong, it is important to keep water away from it. French drains work in tandem with the gutter system to keep the excess water away from the foundation. While French drains work perfectly throughout the year to protect the foundation, some barrier like leaves, debris or frozen water can cause issues and block the free flow of water. Therefore, it becomes imperative for homeowners to keep frozen water away from not only plumbing and pipes but the French drains too. You can consider hiring a professional like DNS Sprinkler and Drainage to ensure your French drains are working fine during winters and the foundation of your property suffers no damage.
Tips to prevent issues with French drains
The below five tips will help prevent blockage issues with French drains:
- You must not empty the gutter system into the French drain, as it creates an overload on the system. During winters the probability of debris, leaves and frozen water getting caught in the system is higher and hence the risk is higher. Therefore, you should empty the gutters away from home, through a separate drain.
- Regular cleaning of gutters should be on your to-do list. This will ensure a clear path for water to go through, avoiding blockages in the system. Thus, avoiding overload on the French drain system. Our team can provide you a comprehensive plan on periodic gutter cleaning.
- In colder regions, it is best to install a dry well at the end of the drain. A dry well is a large hole in the ground, dug under the frost line and is filled with concrete. The French drain empties into this hole and the water meets the ground water. Installing a large metal drum with perforations makes the dry well even more durable.
- If there is no scope to create a dry well, then add a large sized pipe at the end of the drain. This will give water more free space to maneuver around any small ice build-ups.
- Any section of pipe that is above the frost line must be insulated before it is buried underground. An expert will always ensure that majority of the drainage system is below the frost line, as insulation makes it difficult for water to enter the pipe.
Ensure continuous flow of water
To keep your French drains healthy, it is important to prevent build-up of ice. One simple way of doing it is to ensure that water does not stay still, instead keeps moving. Add a slight slope to the system so that water can move continuously and not rest at any point creating dams of ice. Moving water freezes at even lower temperatures as compared to stagnant water and hence this method protects the drain from damage due to frozen water.
If you want to protect your French drains and ensure they work perfectly during and after winters, you can bank on our team of experts at DNS Sprinkler and Drainage. Fill up our Online form or give us a call on (210) 765-8667.