Water is the number one threat to your crawl space.
Unfortunately, certain cities in Virginia such as Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach usually receive an above-average amount of rainfall every year. This puts any home located in these areas at risk for crawl space damage.
Even if you don’t live in one of these cities, precipitation of any kind has a chance to damage your crawl space. For that reason, French drain installation is incredibly valuable for homeowners.
In this guide, we’ll outline how French drains work, the benefits of installing one, and indicators that your crawl space could use one. Read on to learn more!
In a crawl space, a dirt trench is dug along the perimeter next to the foundation walls. It is in this trench that the drain will be placed.
You might hear French drains sometimes referred to as “perimeter drains” for this reason.
After rain or snow, water levels beneath the surface gradually build, and without protection, this leads to flooding. Essentially, French drains capture this rising groundwater and remove it before it has time to flood above the surface.
In many cases, French drains are made with perforated pipe or PVC material. While these options work for a time, they aren’t the most durable and could eventually lead to clogging and flooding.
JES uses a perimeter drain system called CrawlDrain™, which is designed with a special anti-debris barrier placed overtop each section of piping. You can see it in the image to the left:
This flexible, protective screen keeps dirt, insects, and animals out of the drain. No matter what type of French drain you decide to use, any protection is better than none.
What situations call for a French drain in your crawl space? Well, water from precipitation has the potential to cause a few issues for your crawl space and wider property. These include:
Let’s go further into these problem signs so you can understand exactly why you would need to install a French drain for your home.
When it rains or snows in Virginia, water is always absorbed into the soil. Some of this water can drain into your crawl space where it builds below the soil.
If precipitation levels are really high, the continuous flow of water becomes too much for the soil and the water will begin pooling inside the crawl space.
Without any protection, this ground water can sit for days – releasing water vapor into your crawl space which promotes mold growth and structural decay. These aren’t fun issues to deal with.
As mentioned earlier, crawl space flooding becomes an issue after heavy rain or snow. Without any drainage solutions, flooding water will eventually cause foundation damage, including cracks in foundation walls.
When water builds in your crawl space or just outside of it, the moisture and pressure break down supportive structures like wooden beams and stone walls.
When you have a French drain, foundation damage from flooding is much less likely to occur and your entire home benefits from increased protection.
Think about it – when your crawl space isn’t protected against moisture, humidity levels are bound to rise under your home.
Eventually, due to a natural occurrence called the stack effect, humid air rises into your living space.
In turn, your air conditioning system is forced to work in overdrive trying to cool down your home and contend with the rising moisture levels. This leads to higher energy bills.
With a French drain, groundwater won’t be allowed to evaporate into your home and you’ll experience lower energy bills. That’s a win for any homeowner.
When moisture levels increase in your crawl space, fungi like mold and wood rot are provided with a perfect feeding ground.
Unfortunately, thanks to our infamous friend, the stack effect, humid air rises into your living space, and it also pulls along spores from the fungus (and other unsanitary particles found below a home like decaying animals or waste products).
As a result, the air quality in your home becomes a bit unhealthy and musty odors may arise. With a French drain installed, humid air won’t rise into your home and your air quality will stay consistent.
French drains, especially when used in conjunction with other crawl space solutions, have the potential to restore your home’s value.
When your crawl space is damaged and unprotected, it has a negative impact on the value of your home. Potential buyers may turn away due to the unhealthy appearance of your crawl space.
However, when you install a French drain and protect your home from moisture damage, the value of your home is restored.
Since 1993, it has been our goal to provide homeowners with quality service, knowledge, and customer care. When you work with JES, we’ll provide you with a free estimate and crawl space inspection.
If you are looking for French drain installation services, and you’re looking for a professional team to work with, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll make sure your crawl space stays safe, healthy, and well protected from water damage for years.
JES serves homeowners across the Tidewater Region and the surrounding areas including:
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Interestingly, French drains aren’t actually from France.
They are named after Henry French, a judge and farmer that lived in Massachusetts in the 19th century, who first wrote about them in 1859 and called them “cellar drains.”
Many professional landscapers and foundation specialists can install a French drain. Obviously, their reputation is likely going to affect the quality of the French drain.
JES installs a crawl space perimeter drainage system called CrawlDrain™, our version of a French drain with an improved design.
It varies by location. In Virginia and surrounding areas, a French drain is usually installed between 8 inches to 1 foot deep for a crawl space.
