French Drains 101

Let us stop you before you start. A French drain has nothing to do with the Eiffel Tower, greasy fries or berets. It does, however, have everything to do with the drainage of your yard.

Often, home owners will have uneven surfaces in their yard or property. After a large rainfall, the lower-lying areas of the lawn can hold standing water for many days. In order to alleviate the problem, a “sponge” must be created in order to absorb the water and allow the area to dry.

This sponge is what we call a French drain. Named after lawyer and former Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry F. French (1813-1885), who made them popular in his book Farm Drainage, these drains are actually trenches filled with perforated drain tile and gravel that redirect surface and groundwater away from an area. The idea is to transfer the water to a different place in your yard that has a proper slope, thus creating even distribution, and they do wonders in alleviating the possibility of water damage to your home or property.

This spring, as the rains come and the waters rise, be on the lookout for areas of standing water around your home or business. With the number of solutions today, including the marvelous French drains, there’s no reason to risk property damage. Call Gordon Energy & Drainage today and let us come take a look. Whether we install a French drain or employ another solution, we guarantee to give you the results you need with the service you can trust!