As a homeowner, having water seep into places it doesn’t belong is always undesirable. Basement flooding ranks among the most severe water damage issues due to the unsanitary conditions it creates and the extensive destruction it can cause. Preventing an issue like this lies within the quality of your basement waterproofing system. Two popular options for homeowners are French drains and sump pumps. Both are effective at helping you stay safe from basement flooding, but the one that is best for your home will depend on your personal preferences. We’ll explain the main differences between these two apparatuses below.

About French Drains

When you install a French drain for your property, you may not even recognize that it’s there by the time all is said and done. Its design resembles that of a trench that wraps around your property, covered with gravel masking a pipe system that directs groundwater and standing water away from your property. Your landscape can hide this system perfectly to ensure that it doesn’t detract from the aesthetic value of your property. They’re best utilized for properties with poor sloping mechanisms, as these are most prone to standing water and poor drainage problems. 

There are a few drawbacks to a French drain, however. They’re incredibly costly to install due to requiring large amounts of excavation, which may not be possible for all properties. It also can require a significant amount of labor, making the project take a long time. Once they’re installed, however, you won’t need to do much maintenance.

About Sump Pumps

While French Drains are a more natural apparatus, sump pumps are a more mechanical one. This helps to eliminate water from a home by drawing it underneath your property and sending it away through a variety of channels. Like a French drain, sump pumps collect their water using a small basin. The sump pump uses a sensor to determine the water levels, and once they reach a certain point, it will pump away the water using a special discharge pipe. These are especially useful for properties in areas that are prone to flooding.

There can be drawbacks with sump pumps as well. Since they rely on electricity to keep running properly, there’s a greater risk that they can fail in the event of an outage. It’s also not practical to install these mechanisms yourself. You’ll definitely want the aid of a licensed professional. 

Basement Flooding Cleanup & Extraction With Soil-Away

Soil-Away (an Insurcomm Company) can help your home start the recovery process immediately in the event of a basement flood. We monitor our phones 24/7 to be there in the event of an emergency, using advanced extraction methods and sanitization to restore your property back to normal. When you need water damage restoration – regardless of the cause – you can contact our team here for immediate assistance!