French drains are a common retrofit on older homes in our damp NW climate. New homes have these built in as a matter of course because of today’s code requirements, but for any home built prior to the code development, it may be necessary to stop erosion near (or under) a foundation, or to keep a basement or crawl space dry. Just remember, homes are like people – they need regular upkeep to stay healthy!
You can learn all about French drains and their uses in this article by HouseLogic.