Do you have a problem with stagnant water in your house area? This is probably because your French drain is not working probably. It has choked and needs urgent attention. But, you don’t know how to execute it. You are wondering How to clean out a French drain?
It is not too much messy thing when you exactly know what to do and how to do it.
The French drain is a must-have facility when you sunken areas that collect and hold water in the area.
Accumulated water or moister can cause harm to your house. It can damage the structure of the building and also can create mold due to dampness.
The French drain is an underground water clearing system. It is built of an underground pipe having small holes made in it which collects water to the desired outlet.
One end of the French drain system is at a relatively higher elevation which leads collected water to a lower elevation.
Gravity does its work here to clear stagnated water from your home area or lawn.
While thinking about how to clean your French drain, you may think that you should call out a specialist for your help. But you can do it yourself in many ways. It can save you money as well.
Here we will discuss the easy steps to cleaning a French drain.
Why French drain clogs?
There may be several reasons behind clogging the French drain. We will discuss them here.
1. Tree Roots in French Drain:
Grown trees from your garden may come into the French drain and can clog the drain. These grown roots slowly collect and hold the sediments coming with water.
These sediments grow up to the size that can clog the drain. You can clear the blockage by using a plumber’s snake.
2. Sediment Accumulation French Drain:
As water flows in the French drain, a loose slit comes in with the flowing water.
If these fine soil particles kept accumulating in the drain, it grows eventually to a size of drain pipe diameter. Obliviously it can cause a clog in your French drain.
You can use a garden hose pipe to run water thru the clogged drain. At the initial level, the drain can be cleared using water only.
3. Algae Growth French Drain:
Algae growth also would be the reason for clogging your French drain.
Ultimately, if care is not taken in the early stage, clogging can happen immediately. You can use pressure to wash the algae from the French drain.
In the meantime, here are easy ways to keep your French drain clean and free-flowing.
3 Easy Steps to clean out French drain:
Step-1.
The First step will be removing the lid or grate of the French drain.
If you are new to the home, you have to identify the opening or starting point of the French drain. It is usually at a higher elevation as compared to the release point of the drain.
Step-2.
Second Step will be flushing the French drain with the help of water.
Primarily, you can try to flush out small debris or clog using a garden hose pipe.
If you feel that more water pressure is required, you can use a power washer to force clean the French drain clogging.
Step-3.
Third Step is the use of a sewer snake to clean the French drain.
If clogging is heavier, the previous two methods won’t work. A French drain can clog heavily due nature of clogging.
It may be dried out over time or the nature of the soil and other materials in clog made it complicated.
If you are not able to clean your French drain yourself or the clogging is heavy, it always advisable that you should call an expert to clean it.
How to use Sewer Snake to clean out a French Drain?
- Start maneuvering the sewer snake from the opening point or grate of the French drain. You have to go further down.
- Don’t rush the process. You may feel that the sewer snake stopped moving forward. But wait. Do not conclude immediately that you hit the clog. It may be bends of the French drain. Try to move the sewer snake further down.
- When you feel that, the sewer snake ultimately reached the clogged point, pull back it smoothly.
- Now it is time for water to work for removing the clog in the French drain. Flush the drain with water using a garden hose pipe. It will remove the clog slowly.
- If necessary, repeat the process until and unless all the debris from French drains gets flushed away.
Tip while flushing French Drain for cleaning out a clog in it - It is a good idea to stand away from the French drain grate while flushing it with water. If the clog is not moving, water can come back out from the same grate and could make you harm.
- Try to flush the French drain from the release point (that is lower elevation of the French drain). It will remove clog directly to the release point.
Conclusion:
Now it is clear to you that, you can clean out a French drain by using the water flushing technique along with a sewer snake.
Moreover, it is suggested that always clean your French drain at regular intervals. At-least give a thorough inspection of it. It will save you time and money in the future.