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French drain pipe alternatives such as this one are flexible and come in pre-set lengths, typically of 5 or 10 feet each.Ĭonsidering other dimensions is also integral to installing French drain piping, as the pipe's diameter will impact how much water can flow through. The drain pipe itself is made of high-density polyethylene, and is corrugated and perforated. Regardless of what the pipe is made of, it must be slotted or perforated at regular intervals to allow water to enter and flow through the system.Īnother option for areas that require French drain pipe installation is the EZflow system, which is a pipe that comes already surrounded by an aggregate and fabric mesh. Both are lightweight, but corrugated pipe can be flexible, while PVC is stronger and more rigid. There are two frequently chosen pipe variations: corrugated and PVC. One of the most common pipe materials used to create a French drain is plastic because of its durability. French used sections of roofing tile to create his own drains before later advancements included perforated drains to prevent clogging. Assistant Treasury Secretary Henry Flagg French, who popularized them in his 1859 book Farm Drainage. While many assume the origins of the French drain date back to France, the drain's name is actually believed to have come from former lawyer and U.S. The earliest French drains were simple ditches filled with gravel. They take many forms, but are all similar in design and function to the traditional French drain system. Subsurface drainage systems have been in use for centuries, helping with everything from controlling agricultural runoff to providing yard drainage. Instead, this water is directed to a more desirable location such as a dry well or an area of your choosing. French drains can also prevent water from collecting and pooling in specific areas, saturating the ground below, which may lead to water problems at the surface or below. French drains differ from typical surface drains because they collect water over the entire length of the drain instead of one particular spot. The water is then collected in the perforated pipe, running at the base of the drain, and directed away from the home and toward a more suitable area for daylighting or infiltration. This gravel also blocks the passage of excess debris.
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French drains direct surface level water toward the lowest point and allow it to seep through the surface level gravel into the drain. These drains are used to direct surface water or groundwater away from a specific area, such as a home's foundation. Article ContentsĪ French drain, which may also be called a curtain drain, perimeter drain, weeping tile, or agricultural drain, is a gravel-filled trench that includes a perforated or slotted pipe. This is the French drain, and if you've never heard of this essential drainage security measure, this website is designed to provide you with everything you need to know. While you hardly see it, its role is essential to protecting your home from water damage. Instead, your most important drain may be a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe in the landscape or next to your home's foundation. In fact, it may not be part of your indoor plumbing at all. If you're researching French drains, you're probably already facing some drainage issues and looking to learn more about what types of problems a French drain can solve and whether one is right for your property.ĭepending on where you live, your home's most important drain may not be located in your kitchen or your bathroom. Smart-Locâ„¢ Multi-Diameter Fittings.Dura Flo Inline CV (Check Valve) - 17mm.IPS Flexible Irrigation Tubing & Swing Pipes.Turbulent Flo Pressure Compensating Drip Line.Dura Flo Inline CV (Check Valve) - 17mm, 18mm sizes.Non-Pressure Compensating Drippers and Emitters.Irrigation Control Valve & Drip Zone Kits.Drip Irrigation Filters & Pressure Regulators.EZ Marker Grass & Gravel Parking Delineators.Catch Basin Universal Outlets & Drain Adapters.Request a Quote We won't let you do this alone Project Specialists are with you every step of the way!.
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