French Drain Vs Sump Pump

Basements in homes constructed before the 1980s generally don t have underground pipes to collect water.

French drain vs sump pump.

There s a lot of confusion between french drains and trench drains because they sound so similar and because the french drain does incorporate a trench. These drain lines lay in the ground with a minor slope to use gravity to your advantage and drain water away from the basement. However unlike the french drain the trench drain is a surface drainage structure. I also recommend a battery backup to keep the system working should the power fail.

It s a necessary part of an interior french drain system. The cost of a new sump pump plus the labor to install it ranges from 650 to 1800 most homeowners spend about 1200. Installing a french drain may require an inspection and permit to ensure your home s drainage fix doesn t become your neighbor s problem. There s nothing french about it it s named after the man who invented it henry french.

Drain pipe is placed underground it should be covered with 2 in. Catch basin collect surface water a great comb. A perforated drain pipe is installed. Then i would install a couple of sump pumps not a french drain.

This system comes with a lifetime guarantee that your basement floor will not have any. This french drain controls the water delivers it to the sump pump s and discharges it out of the house. To remove water from the basement you can either install a french drain or a sump pump. In some situations sump pumps are not as good as french drains.

If these conditions are not met it would be better to allow the water to drain across the surface. French drain collects subsurface water it flows to sump pump which lifts it p and sends it out to discharge. French drain a french drain is an underground water management and drainage system. If you do a sump pump all you need to have done is hammer out a couple holes in your concrete floor and drill a couple 5 gal buckets full of 3 8 holes like swiss cheese install them in the holes flush fill.

Unlike basement sump pump french drains offer passive draining instead of an on and off pump. Sump pump disadvantages vs french drains. For these reasons alone a french drain can require a lot of effort with minimal effectiveness. Of soil and attempts should be made to have ample slope to drain the pipe.

It is usually dug 2 to 4 inches deep. A trench is dug along the inside foundation of the home. The entire system of pipes sump and pump is called a french drain. Some super systems feature sealed lids with built in floor drains alarm systems and a host of other features.

They may still have a sump but the water collection system is different.