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How to Know if I Need a French Drain?

Are you wondering whether or not you have a drainage problem in your yard and what type of drainage system is best to solve it? You might need a French drain if water pools in large areas of your yard and has no place to drain to. A French drain is one of the most effective ways to collect unwanted water over large areas of a property and discharge it offsite. A French drain refers to an enclosed perforated pipe buried in the ground surrounded by aggregate. Read below to see if having a French drain installed is a viable option to resolve your drainage issues.

Persistent Muddy Soils

You may need a French drain if parts of your yard are persistently muddy or wet. If after a storm or irrigation cycle your soils need several days to dry up, then you likely have a drainage issue.

Struggling Landscaping Plants

If you see yellowing leaves on your plants and trees, this likely indicates that they are getting too much water. If you have had to replace these plants several times, you should start by checking your watering schedule and looking for leaks within the irrigation system. If those are not the issue, you likely have a drainage problem and should consider a French drain.

Standing Water

Water pooling in your lawn typically indicates poor-draining soils with low spots in the soil where water can gather. You may need a French drain if large areas of the lawn are holding water several days after a rain or irrigation cycle. You should contact a drainage professional for drainage problems like pooling lawn water.

Dead Lawn

Most turfgrass will eventually perish if excess water is left unchecked. In North Texas, we have compacted clay soils that quickly fill with water, resulting in flooding and runoff. Grass struggles to grow in soggy clay soil. You might want to explore implementing a landscape drainage solution if you’re having difficulty identifying why certain areas of your Texas lawn are repeatedly dying.

Flooding in a Crawl Space or Basement

Flooding water in the basement or crawl space under your house will require an immediate drainage fix to avoid expensive damages and repairs to your home and foundation. A French drain will need to be installed if the source of flooding is subsurface water.

Foundation Damage

If water finds its way under a slab foundation and erodes the subsoil, it can create an underground void resulting in foundation shifting and settling. If you see cracks in a structure’s interior or exterior walls, or you’ve been told that your home has foundation damage, a drainage fix will be in order.

Severe Erosion

Soil can erode when water rushes over the topsoil layer, moving small particles over time that eventually affects the grading. Improper grading will channel excess water to unwanted areas of your property. A French drain may be in order if regrading your property doesn’t resolve severe erosion problems.

Retaining Wall Damage

A retaining wall that leans or bulges out over time may be due to poor drainage behind it. Pressure from water and wet soils behind and under the wall will need to be addressed to prevent further damage. A French drain installed behind the wall will create a void in the soil for water to drain through and relieve the pressure.

First and foremost, it’s crucial to identify whether or not you have a drainage problem as soon as possible to minimize damage. If you need French drain installation in Prosper, Texas, contact a drainage professional who is not only familiar with a French drain but also has experience with other drainage solutions.