Last Update: 24 September 2025
Protecting your home from excessive water damage is a top priority, especially during the unpredictably wet summer months. These systems work tirelessly underground to divert stormwater away from your garden and the foundations of your home, preventing flooding and damage.
But how do you maintain your French drain without breaking the bank? Our drainage specialists have created a handy guide to refer back to when you need it.
Signs Your French Drain Needs Maintenance
Taking the time to regularly clean and maintain your French drain helps to extend its lifespan and improve its effectiveness and efficiency. As your French drainage system is underground, it can be hard to realise there is something wrong with it until it's too late. Keep an eye out for these early warning signs that there is a problem with your French drain:
- Stagnant or pooling water around your garden
- Foul smells
- Slow drainage
- Visible sediment build up
How to Get the Most Out Of Your French Drain
Regular Cleaning
To keep your French drain running smoothly all year round, it’s important to set some time aside to give it a good clean. Over time, leaves and sticks can clog up your system, reducing its efficiency. The easiest way to prevent this is to install a drain cover to block larger debris.
For clogs that have already formed, you can use a garden hose or a powerful pressure washer to flush away any built-up sediment. For those pesky larger clogs, such as compacted dirt or tree roots, using a drain snake might help to break up the blockage.
Keep An Eye On Your Garden and Landscaping
To help maintain the health of both your garden and your home’s drainage system, avoid planting trees and shrubs near your French drain. Tree roots are naturally attracted to water and moisture and can infiltrate your pipes through the smallest crack. If they get inside your plumbing system, they grow bigger and lead to significant damage, not to mention a hefty price tag.
Annual Inspections
Our plumbers recommend scheduling inspections for your French drain at least once a year. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of heavy downpours or thunderstorms, then you’ll need to have inspections more often to check for any potential clogs, leaks, tree root intrusions or damage.
Take Proactive Maintenance
Conducting your own preventive maintenance is important to making sure your French drain is working as it should be. By regularly cleaning away debris and ensuring that the drain and surrounding area is free from weeds and overgrowth, there’s less of a chance that it’ll become blocked in the future.
When Should You Call The Professionals?
If you have noticed that your drains are slow, are getting clogged easily or you think that your French drain might be damaged, it’s always best to call the professionals. Our team of dedicated drainage specialists has the tools, experience and technology to figure out exactly what’s wrong with your French drain and repair it in no time.
Published by: 24 September 2025