Is A Dry Well the Same as A French Drain for My Bethesda, MD Landscape?

French drains and dry wells are structures that manage drainage water on a property. If you’re like most Bethesda, MD homeowners who are enthusiastic about landscaping, you’re probably thinking, “Is a Dry Well the Same as a French Drain for My Bethesda, MD Landscape?” We would want to clear up this misunderstanding for you now as a prominent landscaping service company in your region. The precise solution to your question is detailed further down.

Is A Dry Well the Same as A French Drain for My Bethesda, MD Landscape?

To answer this question, you must first comprehend what French drains and dry wells are and how they aid in the drainage of excess water from your landscape.

A dry well is a hole in the earth that has been sealed with waterproof material and is dry. This form of excavation is often used to relieve groundwater pressure on an existing structure, such as a building foundation, and it may help avoid frost heave. A dry well may also collect rainwater overflow from a rooftop or parking lot.

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On the other hand, French drains are tunnels that accumulate water that is draining off your landscape surface before it can permeate into the ground under your home or seep back into the foundation via cracks. Unlike dry wells, which drain standing water into the earth, French drains are designed to direct water to specified sections of your property.

When Should a Dry Well Be Installed?

A dry well is an excellent option when there are no neighboring lakes or storm drains towards which you can construct a trench drain, and you need to drain water from your yard. Standing water is drained down into the earth and soil by dry wells. 

The surplus water will gently flow through the gravel and be filtered back into the soil without harming the landscape. One disadvantage of a dry well is that it does not gather water on its own. Rather, water must be collected and carried to the dry well through a drainpipe or catch basin.

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When Should a French Drain Be Installed?

A French drain is a good alternative to a dry well and, in certain situations, a preferable option for surface drains. Standing water may be directed to a storm drain, a pond, a river, or other suitable drainage place using French drains.

A French drain transports water underground via a perforated pipe. This enables you to remedy a backyard drainage issue by directing runoff water to a nearby water source or drain.

If you want to learn more about French drains and dry wells, or if you’re considering incorporating one into your landscape, contact East Coast Landscape Design, Inc. For this, please complete the contact form on our website, and one of our landscaping experts will contact you as soon as possible to assist you with your landscaping project.