You finally got tired of puddles forming in your basement so you got a French drain. Great choice! But now you’re wondering, how long is this thing going to last before I’m back down there with a mop?
Let’s break it down.
What’s a French Drain, Again?
Despite the name, it’s not from France and it doesn’t come with wine. A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that moves groundwater away from your foundation.
Interior French drains live inside your basement along the perimeter, under the floor. Exterior ones? Buried around the outside of your house, battling roots, soil, and the chaos of nature.
So… How Long Does One Last?
If your French drain was installed by someone who knows what they’re doing, and it’s an interior system, you’re looking at 30 to 40 years of dry living. If its exterior, you’re looking at more like 10 to 20 years. Why? Because soil shifts, roots grow, and nature is just kind of rude.
What Makes a French Drain Last Longer?
There are a few critical factors.
- Quality Installation – You can’t just dig a trench, throw in a pipe, and call it a day. If it’s not sloped right or isn’t protected from dirt intrusion, it’s game over.
- The Right Materials – Cheap pipe and gravel will betray you. Count on it.
Signs Your French Drain Is Failing
If any of the following sounds familiar, your French drain might be in need of some TLC:
- Water is mysteriously creeping back into your basement.
- There’s standing water outside near your foundation.
- That musty smell is back — and no, it’s not your laundry pile.
- The drain isn’t draining… which is literally its only job.
Should You DIY It?
Technically, you could. Realistically? Please don’t. Between digging trenches, calculating slope, adding gravel, and the pipes — it’s a full-blown project. And unless your hobby is trial-and-error water diversion, it’s best to leave it to the pros.
A properly installed interior French drain can last decades — like in this case study. But a bad install or exterior neglect? That’ll put you on the fast track back to another wet and soggy basement or crawlspace.
If you’re not sure whether your drain is working the way it should or quietly dying under your foundation, give us a call. We’ll check it out, fix what’s broken, and make sure water goes where it should — away from your house.