The Downsides To Installing A French Drain To Combat Standing Water In Your Yard

Does your yard get swampy with every big rain or when you experience major snow melt in the winter? Extra-soggy areas, with or without standing water, create messy issues in your yard that could make the space unusable. It might interfere with your landscaping plans, affect grass health, and invite pests to your yard. Yard drainage issues can also result in even bigger problems with your home. Poor drainage in your yard could direct that excess water right toward your home's foundation, where it can leak into your home or cause structural damage. 

The French drain system may help you reclaim your yard and make it easier to use for different purposes. However, there are possible downsides to installing a French drain, including the complexity of the installation process itself. Once the French drain is in place, you may deal with clogging and maintenance issues.

You can install a French drain by digging a trench and laying a perforated pipe, which is surrounded by stone or gravel. The idea is to encourage the water to flow naturally toward those rocks and into the pipe. From there, the French drain system can move the water to an ideal location where the overrun can't cause problems with your foundation or yard. While a French drain is typically an effective system to remove standing water from your lawn and prevent water from entering your basement or crawl space, here are a few considerations to keep in mind.

DIY installation comes with challenges. The pipes in a French drain system typically sit 18 to 24 inches below the ground. You could come into contact with buried utility lines, including cable, electrical, water, sewage, and telephone lines, as you dig. Depths for various lines typically range from 12 inches to 3 feet deep. Having all utilities marked to show you where your property water line is, as well as other buried utility lines, prevents dangerous digging mistakes.

Proper self-installation can also be challenging because you'll need to determine the natural flow of the water and figure out where to install the French drain to direct that water away from your home. Creating an ideal slope of 1%, or a drop of about 1 foot for every 100 feet of pipe, is essential to keep the water flowing correctly. That can be challenging, depending on the slope of your property. Incorrect installation could further complicate water issues on your property.

Another potential issue is dealing with existing structures in your yard. If the ideal location for the French drain is right where you already have a garden, deck, shed, or other structures, you may have to remove those features or change your French drain plans. Working around those structures can be challenging.

It's possible for the French drain pipe to become clogged with mud and sediment. You'll have to unclog and maintain your yard drain to keep the water flowing smoothly. If the French drain is near plants or trees, the roots could infiltrate the pipe and create clogs. When the pipe becomes clogged, water may overflow and create issues in your yard or along your home's foundation. You might not have any warning about the issue until you see the flooding in your yard.

Clearing the clogs can be challenging since the pipe is buried under the ground. A pressure washer or plumbing snake may work for some clogs. However, clogs caused by tree roots are often more complicated to fix. The roots could shift or damage the pipes, which may require repairs. Digging up the area to inspect and repair the pipes can be costly and messy. While French drains are relatively low maintenance, you will need to flush the lines occasionally and check the output location to make sure it doesn't get blocked. You typically need to clean the lines at least once per year.

Another long-term downside is the potential need to replace your French drain eventually. You can expect at least 10 years out of your French drain. If you maintain it well, the French drain could last 30 to 40 years. Not cleaning your system regularly could cause it to fail prematurely. The pipes might also become damaged by water freezing inside of them if you live in a cold climate.