Named after henry french who popularized the technology in 1859 the drain is a popular and effective method for drying out basements that are constantly effected by rainwater and other runoff.
French drain system basement.
Rather it catches water that seeps inside and channels it by gravity to a sump pump that sends the water back outside or into a drain line.
It s a trench containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from the foundation.
Installing a french drain in an existing basement isn t a complicated project but it requires the use of power equipment including a concrete saw and a jackhammer to break out the basement floor.
A french drain also called a weeping tile drain tile perimeter drain or sub surface drain is a common basement waterproofing solution.
Unfortunately traditional french drains clog easily and often struggle to thoroughly remove water.
An interior french drain system is much more complicated in the sense that it requires digging into the foundation that lines the basement walls.
A french drain is not a specific item per se but rather a name for the space between a basement wall and the concrete slab that allows water to drain outside of the home rather than pool on the floor.
However if you have a finished basement you ll have to remove interior walls in order to install the system.
To install an interior french drain a waterproofing contractor cuts a channel into your basement slab around its perimeter.
This project would most likely require the help of a professional assuming that large power tools like a jackhammer are unavailable to the homeowner.
An interior french drain doesn t prevent water from entering your basement.