Managing water runoff is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home. At Lowery’s Plumbing, we install French drains for customers who are dealing with constant puddling, foundation saturation, or soggy areas in the yard. These systems are simple, but when done right, they solve problems that could lead to serious water damage over time.
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that redirects water away from areas where it shouldn’t be. It collects water from the soil and surface, then moves it to a safer discharge point, like a storm drain, retention pond, or lower section of the yard.
In Florida, we get a lot of rain. Saturated soil around your home can cause water to creep under the foundation or make crawlspaces wet and moldy. French drains relieve that pressure by giving the water a place to go. They’re often placed along the side of homes, behind retaining walls, or in low-lying areas where water collects.
If you’re seeing water pooling in your yard, soft spots in the lawn, or a musty smell near your slab or crawlspace, a French drain might be the right solution. It’s especially effective for homes that have poor natural drainage or sit at the bottom of a slope.
We also recommend French drains if you’re having recurring flooding during storms, water coming into the garage, or problems with erosion. French drains won’t fix every type of drainage issue, but when the problem is excess surface or subsurface water, they are a proven fix.
Our team inspects the grade of your yard, checks the elevation and flow patterns, and then designs a drain system that actually moves water away from the structure. We don’t take shortcuts or just throw pipe in the ground. Everything has to slope correctly, vent properly, and discharge in a way that won’t create new issues somewhere else.
Installing a French drain starts with planning. We identify the water problem, map out the trench line, and choose the best spot for discharge. Then we dig the trench, lay the pipe, and wrap it in fabric to keep sediment out. The pipe gets surrounded with clean gravel and finished off at the surface depending on what kind of look the customer wants. Sometimes we go with soil and sod, sometimes decorative gravel.
Most residential installs take one to two days, depending on the length and depth of the system. We use machines where needed, but we’re careful not to destroy landscaping or utilities. If we have to route the drain around sprinkler systems or buried cables, we do it right and make sure it’s safe.
A lot of people think French drains are a cure-all, but they’re not always the right fit. For example, if you’ve got standing water because your gutters are dumping water next to the foundation, the first step is to redirect the downspouts. French drains handle ground saturation and runoff, not plumbing leaks or roof drainage.
Another thing we hear is that French drains are maintenance-free. While they’re low maintenance, they still need occasional flushing to keep the pipe clear, especially if they weren’t installed with proper fabric wrap or if the wrong gravel was used. We install them the right way so you don’t run into those problems later.
At Lowery’s Plumbing, we take water management seriously. A French drain is more than just a trench it’s a long-term investment in keeping your home safe and dry.
