Were clearing the air on this popular water-clearing system.
Theres quite a few misconceptions surrounding French drains.
First, despite their name, French drains did not originate in France.
Credit: Ralph Anderson
Their namesake is actually Massachusetts farmer, Henry French.
In some ways, the name has become a catch-all for multiple types of lawn drainage.
However, this over-generalization may lead to expensive installation mishaps if you are unclear what youre asking for.
What Is A French Drain?
Gravity pulls water from the surface into the pipe, which drains the water out from theyard.
How A French Drain Works
French drains are optimized to collect water and transfer it.
From there, the water is set flowing away on the path of least resistance.
French drains leverage gravity to help transfer water.
Is A French Drain Right For Your Yard?
In areas with a lot of rainfall, French drains are a more popular choice.
For homes where water from the lawn pools toward the home, French drains can even be a necessity.
French drains can be useful, but theyre not the only solution.
And in some cases, they are the solution, just not all on their own.
