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How to clean a French drain

2 min read

Cleaning a French drain means clearing the line around the foundation when sand, salt, and melt clog it. Water coming in after rain often points to that line, not a leak on the domestic water service. We unclog if the pipe is blocked. We film to see what is blocking the flow, then hydrojet. We film again after. Estimate over the phone. You approve before the work.

Why the French drain clogs

After visits on French drains in Laval and the North Shore, three causes come back. Melt pushes sand toward the cleanout. Road salt follows. Roots look for moisture at the joints. The French drain is not a second system. It is the same line along the walls.

That is not the garage floor drain. The slab and the walls are two jobs. If water stays on the slab, see garage drain unclogging. If the wall mildews after rain, stay on the French drain.

Maintenance and cleaning

Maintenance is keeping the cleanout reachable and filming before the basement gets wet every melt. Cleaning is clearing what the camera showed. We do not hydrojet blind. A crushed or offset pipe cannot take the jet.

For more on pricing, see drain unclogging cost and camera inspection cost. We do not post a French-drain rate. Estimate over the phone.

When we film

We film when water comes in along the foundation, before a sale, or after a flood. Video and a written report are part of every visit. Book a French drain camera inspection.

Water coming in

In Quebec, entrée d'eau often means water is coming into the basement. If it comes from rain along the foundation, it is the French drain. If the toilet or floor drain backs up, it is the main drain. See also water in the basement.

What the camera shows

On camera inspections in Laval and Terrebonne, we often find sand in the French drain. We always check whether the pipe holds and whether the sand is soft enough to hydrojet. If the pipe does not hold, we tell you the next step based on what the camera shows.

Order of work

We unclog if the pipe is blocked. We film to see what is blocking the flow, then hydrojet. We film again after. No chemicals. You approve the estimate before we start.

To book the inspection, call 514-700-6731 or pick a slot for a French drain camera inspection.

Benjamin
By Benjamin

Questions about cleaning a French drain

Maintenance, excavation, price, and area.

Do you clean the French drain every year?

Not on a calendar. We film when the basement gets wet, before a sale, or if the cleanout is full of sand after melt.

Does cleaning replace excavation?

No. Cleaning clears a sound pipe. A broken pipe needs a repair estimated separately.

Will I get the price before the work?

Yes. We give you the estimate over the phone. You approve it before the work. Book your slot online; any extra work is estimated separately. No charges for work you did not approve.

Do you serve my area?

Yes. We serve Greater Montreal, including Montreal, Laval, Terrebonne, and Repentigny. If you are unsure, call 514-700-6731 and we will confirm.

Contact us

Request a call back and a member of our team will be happy to help you. You can also call us directly at 514-700-6731.

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