A basement drain tile system is an effective waterproofing solution that keeps moisture away from your foundation by redirecting excess water towards a sump pit or underground drainage pipe, from which it can then be pumped outside for disposal. When combined with other solutions like vapor barriers and sump pumps for optimal results.
Drain tiles are often misunderstood as perforated pipes installed beneath the surface that resemble tiles in appearance, rather than literal tiles. Drain tile installation can take place either outdoors along a foundation perimeter, or indoors under the floor of your basement. A trench will usually be dug along foundation footings before placing a drain tile pipe within it surrounded by washed rock to help prevent dirt and debris from clogging the system.
As groundwater seeps down into your pipe system, hydrostatic pressure builds that pushes against the foundation wall of your home. While this is usually beneficial, when this pressure becomes too great it may cause it to bow inward causing cracking to develop in your foundation and even collapse; but installing an efficient drain tile system can alleviate pressure by giving water an easier route through which to travel.
Drain tile systems work on the principle that water always takes the path of least resistance, providing an alternate route away from your home via porous pipe material such as drain tile. Depending on its design, drain tiles may also direct this flow towards a sump pit which is then pumped out or release excess water aboveground into storm drains or sewer systems.
Interior basement drain tile systems typically consist of perforated pipes buried beneath washed stone under your basement floor, to which water gathers underneath your basement and flows directly into. When water accumulates below and around it, it enters through this system into a sump pit or the floor before being sent through an outgoing discharge pipe away from your property.
As soon as your basement drain tile system stops working correctly, the first sign will likely be horizontal or zig-zag cracks appearing in your basement or crawl space walls. Over time these could become more substantial and lead to similar issues as cracked foundations. If this is happening to you it is essential that a professional come investigate and possibly install new drain tiles at this time if required; drain tile installation during construction phase would likely be much more cost effective compared with doing this work afterwards.