French Drain V.S. WaterGuard Below Floor Drain

A French drain, also known as a footing drain, is a conduit designed to divert water away from your home. The installation of an exterior French drain can prove to be challenging and costly, often necessitating the removal of landscaping, decks, and walkways to accommodate the drainpipe. Opting for an interior drainage system presents a simpler and more economical solution for waterproofing your basement.

The WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System serves as a non-clogging alternative to traditional French drains. Our interior drainage system effectively captures water at the primary entry points into the basement: the floor and wall joint.

What is a French drain, and how does it work?

A French drain, also referred to as a perimeter drain, drain tile, weeping tile, or sub-surface drain, stands as a prevalent solution for waterproofing basements. It consists of a trench containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from the foundation.

Challenges associated with exterior French drains

While a French drain can effectively redirect water, it comes with several drawbacks:

Difficult installation

Typically installed post-construction to address basement dampness issues, a French drain entails digging around the foundation, necessitating the removal of landscaping features like shrubs and flower beds, as well as outdoor structures like walkways, steps, decks, and porches. Additionally, buried utilities such as gas and water lines, sewer pipes, and electrical wires pose potential hazards during excavation.

Clogging

Sediment and debris accumulation can obstruct the French drain pipe, leading to water overflow or backup into the basement. Footing drains are prone to becoming packed with soil or invaded by tree roots, requiring costly excavation to clear blockages.

Costly maintenance

The soil surrounding the foundation may settle post-installation or service, necessitating re-grading. The entire process may need to be repeated approximately every decade.

WaterGuard: The clog-resistant solution

The patented basement drainage systems are engineered to address basement water issues without the concern of soil clogs beneath the floor.

While exterior French drains are susceptible to clogging in the “mud zone” outside the foundation, the WaterGuard® Basement Waterproofing System is installed in the “clear water zone” above the footing, preventing blockages. Each of our drainage systems effectively intercepts water at your basement's perimeter, safely channeling it away to your sump pump system.

The installation of WaterGuard® or any of our other interior drainage systems serves as your primary defense in maintaining a dry and clean basement.