Install hand excavated french drains even if you think it is too late
Well now, the holidays are upon us. Another year has almost come and gone. Hand excavated french drains may have been on your mind this year. Many of us have had a year without groundwater in our basements and crawlspaces. Many homeowners have not been so lucky. A look at my phone log shows hundreds of calls on groundwater drainage issues this year. If you are a homeowner that feels it is too late to do anything about your drainage problem because it is already raining, do not despair. It would have been better for you to install french drains prior to the cold wet weather setting in, but better late than never.
When the ground is saturated it takes longer to dry out those areas recieving groundwater, but by getting those hand excavated french drains installed now, you will cut off the groundwater on the surface from the rains and begin the process of drying those basements and crawlspaces. If you wait until spring or summer, your crawlspace or basement may have suffered damage that will need repairs accomplished as well as the french drains.
Many water problems are caused by the old rain drain discharge systems that the downspouts are vented into. This is true of older homes especially. The older homes built before the 1970-80s were most likely plumbed with concrete or clay tiles about 18″ long that were simply laid in a poorly excavated dirt ditch. The dirt falls between the rain drain discharge tiles, and in short or long term they plug with dirt. The downspouts, after the rain drains plug, begin the process of backing up next to the foundation, and naturally the roofwater draining into the gutters and downspouts finds it’s way into the course of least resistance, the basement or the crawlspace.
Many times this year I have removed those tiles filled with dirt and plumbed new downspout discharges with abs and ads solid pipe. When the gutter system cannot vent through the rain drain discharges, the gutters overflow along the whole length of the gutter as well. Water pooling against your foundation causes hydrostatic pressure, and that causes leaking into your crawlspace or basement.
Protect the quality of your foundation walls, and the posts, piers and footings in your crawlspace by installing french drains. To be more specific, hand excavated french drains only. You will be glad you did install french drains when you get the home inspection report during your home sale and find no water or evidence of water; or when you find no damage in the support structure of your home.
Dryrot is the really expensive problem to deal with. Dryrot is a very expensive lesson in poor drainage and procrastinated drainage work.
Dryrot is the payoff for having poor drainage around your home. Dryrot is the evidence of significant groundwater, past or present, in your basement or crawlspace. Protecting your home with good drainage and french drains is just as important as having a good roof over your head. Protect your home with hand excavated french drains.