The french drain, or foundation footing drain, is a drainage mechanism used to protect the foundation of a house from excessive water pressure. In other words, the drain allows rainwater to drain away as it accumulates in the soil. But how do you know if there’s a problem with your drain? Stay tuned as we explore how to tell if your foundation footing drain is working properly with Marc-André Caron, manager of Excavation Lesage.

When it comes to the proper functioning of your foundation footing drain, our experts suggest you start by doing a few checks yourself. For example, after a good rain, check the ground around your home for puddles or persistent mud. If the water isn’t pooling, it’s a good sign.

Then go to your basement and take a look at the outside walls. Do they feel damp to the touch? Do you see any traces of mold, efflorescence or signs of water infiltration, such as rings or drips?

While you’re in the basement, take the opportunity to check your sump pump. Make sure the pump starts automatically when the water level rises, by pouring water into the sump until the pump activates.

By its very nature, the foundation footing drain is difficult to access, and it’s often best to call in a company specializing in this type of service to investigate further. That’s where specialists like Excavation Lesage come in.

The first step in checking the condition of a foundation footing drain is a visual inspection. We’ll check for signs of water infiltration. The presence of efflorescence, a white powder that can be seen on foundation walls or floors, is generally one of the most common signs of high humidity in the basement.

We can then recommend a camera inspection of the foundation footing drain to check whether it has a discharge to a sump pump or a rainwater outlet.

Sometimes, when there’s no access to the foundation footing drain from the inside, we have to carry out an exploratory excavation. So we make a mini excavation along the foundation wall and check the condition of the foundation, the waterproofing and the foundation footing drain.

Once the diagnosis has been established, we’ll make our recommendations: high-pressure cleaning, installation of access chimneys, repair of breakages or the ultimate solution being complete replacement of the foundation footing drain.

In conclusion, if you carry out these few checks and follow these steps, you will greatly minimize the risk of ending up with a more serious problem. So if in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our building specialists and foundation footing drain partners are here to advise you and guide you through the process.