French Drain Installation in Greenwich, CT
Standing water, soggy lawns, hillside runoff and water collecting near your foundation can all point to a drainage problem.
Heneghan Services designs and installs French drain systems throughout Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Riverside and Cos Cob. We identify where the water is coming from, determine where it should go and design a drainage solution around the property.
What Is a French Drain?
A French drain is a subsurface drainage system designed to collect and redirect groundwater away from an area where it is creating a problem.
A typical French drain uses perforated drainage pipe surrounded by washed stone and filter fabric. Water enters the stone-filled drainage area, reaches the perforated pipe and is carried toward an appropriate drainage or infiltration location.
Signs Your Greenwich Property May Need a French Drain
A French drain may be appropriate when groundwater or subsurface water repeatedly collects in a particular area of the property.
These symptoms don't automatically mean a French drain is the correct solution. Roof runoff, grading, groundwater and undersized or clogged drainage systems can create similar problems.
How Heneghan Services Diagnoses a Drainage Problem
We start with the water problem—not with a predetermined product.
Identify Where the Water Is Coming From
We evaluate surface runoff, roof drainage, groundwater, property elevations and other potential sources.
Evaluate the Property
Slope, soil conditions, existing drainage infrastructure and available areas for drainage or infiltration affect the design.
Determine Where the Water Should Go
Collecting water is only part of the solution. We also need to determine how that water will be appropriately managed.
Design the Drainage Solution
Depending on the property, the system may include French drains, catch basins, trench drains, downspout drainage, dry wells or CULTEC stormwater chambers.
French Drain vs. Dry Well: What's the Difference?
Collects & Moves Water
A French drain is generally used to collect groundwater or subsurface water from an area and move it away from the location where it is causing a problem.
Stores & Infiltrates Water
A dry well is designed to receive stormwater underground and allow that water to infiltrate into surrounding soil where conditions permit.
In some drainage designs, the systems can work together. Water collected by a drainage system may be directed toward an appropriately designed underground infiltration system.
What About a CULTEC System?
Some Greenwich properties require more than a simple French drain.
When larger volumes of stormwater need to be managed underground, Heneghan Services can design and install drainage solutions incorporating CULTEC stormwater chambers where appropriate.
French drains, catch basins and downspout drainage can sometimes form part of a larger system that directs water toward underground stormwater storage or infiltration.
Learn About CULTEC Stormwater Systems →When a French Drain Isn't the Answer
A French drain isn't the correct solution for every wet property.
If the primary problem is roof runoff, the solution may involve redirecting downspouts. Surface water may require grading or catch basins. Driveway runoff may call for a trench drain. Larger stormwater volumes may require an underground stormwater system.
The objective isn't to install a French drain. The objective is to solve the water problem.
How Much Does a French Drain Cost in Greenwich, CT?
There is no single price for a French drain because the design depends on the property and the drainage problem being solved.
Project cost can be affected by the length and depth of the drain, excavation access, soil conditions, stone requirements, pipe size, landscaping restoration, disposal, connection points and where the collected water ultimately needs to go.
A short drainage run in an accessible yard is very different from a larger drainage project requiring significant excavation or underground stormwater infrastructure.
Heneghan Services evaluates the drainage problem before recommending a system and providing project pricing.
French Drain Installation Throughout Greenwich, Connecticut
Heneghan Services provides French drain and property drainage solutions throughout the Greenwich area, including:
Drainage conditions can vary considerably from one Greenwich property to another. Lot elevation, soil, roof runoff, landscaping and existing drainage infrastructure all affect how stormwater moves across a property.
That's why we design the drainage solution around the individual property rather than applying the same system everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions About French Drains
How do I know if my property needs a French drain?
Persistent standing water, saturated soil or groundwater collecting in a particular area may indicate that subsurface drainage could help. The source of the water should be identified before deciding whether a French drain is appropriate.
How deep should a French drain be?
There is no single depth that is correct for every property. The depth depends on what water the system needs to intercept, property elevations and where the collected water needs to go.
Where does the water from a French drain go?
The destination depends on the property and drainage design. The discharge or infiltration strategy should be determined before the French drain is installed.
Can a French drain connect to a dry well?
In some drainage designs, water collected by a French drain can be directed toward an underground infiltration system. Whether that is appropriate depends on the site conditions and overall system design.
Can a French drain work with a CULTEC system?
In some projects, drainage components can collect water and direct it toward a CULTEC underground stormwater system. The appropriate design depends on the property and the amount of water being managed.
Do you install French drains in Old Greenwich and Riverside?
Yes. Heneghan Services provides drainage services throughout Greenwich, including Old Greenwich, Riverside, Cos Cob and other Greenwich neighborhoods.
Have a Water Problem on Your Property?
Tell us what's happening. We'll evaluate the drainage problem and help determine the appropriate solution for your property.
