Could a 2-yr-old French Drain Failed?

[rico13571]

Have a water basement problem again in the same area where a french drain was installed two years ago. Why did the system fail after two years? Contractor installed perforated pipes, backfill with clean crushed rocks, and wafers to divert the water to the existing sump pump. What would be a new solution to completely divert all the water and prevent it from seeping between the cove? thanks

 

[dik]

Did he wrap the French drain in a geotextile? Might be the problem was not related to remedy by using a French drain.

Dik

 

[cvg]

rico - you say the drain failed - have you determined the failure mechanism? Are you sure the drain failed (what leads you to believe it is not working?) No way for an explanation of your problem (just a lot of random guessing) without a lot more information.

 

[civilman72]

First thing I always check is the outlet of the french drain. If there is still water coming out at the outlet, then the drain is (at least somewhat) working.

Did you ever verify if water was discharging out of the pipe (right) after construction was completed? If there was water at the outlet after construction, and no longer exists there, then you can assume that the drain has failed.

 

[civilman72]

Just realized you said the drain was connected to the sump pump, so the "outlet" of the pipe is in the sump, however, my previous comments still apply. First thing to check is to make sure there is still water coming into your pump from the drain.

 

[msquared48]

Can a french drain fail after two years?

Well, the Titanic "failed" on it's maiden voyage...

Point being that unless the installation is performed correctly, implying that shortcuts were not used to save $$$, the drain could fail very easily. Clogging of the system cue to siltation is the most likely scenario here. There are others.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[Ryb01]

If the drain is connected to the sump pump a CCTV inspection of the pipe could determine if and where there is a problem.

 

[civilman72]

Ryb01 - Most french drains I see installed are only 4" (dia.) and are a flexible PVC pipe. The CCTV companies I have inquired only inspect pipes of 6" or bigger, and they very often cannot manuever through the french drains "flexible" angles. Have you had any luck with CCTV companies that can inspect french drains?

 

[Ryb01]

Yes we have inspected a few french drains.

We have a local plumbing company than can inspect drains down to a 2" dia. Instead of the standard "tracked or wheeled camera" that is used for sewer inspection, there's a smaller "snake camera" that can be used. This camera system looks like a small garden hose, wound on a spool that you can feed into the drain. At the end of the unit is a small camera and lighting system, about the size of a quarter. This "snake camera" is very flexible and can be fed into drains with mutiple bends. Our contact also provides a digital copy of the inspection.

Traditionally we've used this operation for inspecting private sewer connections but have also used it for french drains.

 

[Ryb01]

I should note that several CCTV companies that I've worked with also have this "snake camera" and not just plumbing companies.

 

[civilman72]

Thanks Ryb01 - Sounds like I should speak with some local plumbers, and ask them about "snake cameras."

 

[brandoncdg]

That snake cctv is what our plumber used when our sewer lateral clogged with a root.

CDG, Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://cdg-ca.com