Trusted Watering, Sprinkler & Drip Irrigation System Contractors in Apex, NC

A French drain is typically a perforated pipe laid in a trench filled and surrounded by stone intended to collect water from one location and convey it to a desired location. French drains can be used to remove water from an area or to distribute water into an area, as with the septic system.

One of the easiest ways to inspect your drainage system is to observe the inlets during a heavy rain - from inside through the windows if possible. It is often beneficial to go outside in a heavy rain with an umbrella [when it is safe to do so] so you can see if gutters are overflowing, if drains are overflowing and if water is collecting or standing around foundation.

At least once a year, it is important to make sure that water that goes into any point of a drainage system comes out where it is supposed to. It is important to make sure that the outlet ends of the drainage pipe are unobstructed. Surface drains are often higher maintenance. When they are in areas where they are likely to be clogged with debris, such as wooded areas, they should be checked more often including before and after big storms.

Despite all the bad press on corrugated pipe, old habits are hard to break. Most landscapers don't have warranties and most builder warranties only last a year. Homeowners often want to save money when building and most builders would rather install marble countertops than a premium, permanent drainage system. They also go by the code book which is heavily influenced by insurance companies that do not cover drainage problems. This means there is little guidance and accountability drainage is concerned.

Almost Never! We have had a 100% success rate at sufficiently improving situations to the point where it is not necessary to re-waterproof the foundation. We have, however, gone back on many homes that have been dug out and re-waterproof by other companies that are still leaking. So far, we have been able to stop these problems by improving the drainage.