French Drains

Three Common Uses of French Drains

• Shallow curtain drains to divert surface water

• French drains built into a retaining wall to eliminate pressure build-up on the wall

• Interior French drain to stop water where it enters the home

Interior French Drains (The Vulcan Hydrostatic Pressure Relief System)

Hydrostatic pressure is caused by underground springs, rivers, and/or a fluctuating high water table. Signs of hydrostatic pressure include water that seeps in at the cove (where the wall meets the floor) or up through the slab floor. A solution to relieve hydrostatic pressure must entail:

1. Relieving the water pressure under the floor and around the foundation perimeter

2. Diverting the water to a point where it can be pumped out or otherwise removed from the basement.