Drain tile systems are among the most effective waterproofing solutions available, helping prevent basement and crawl space flooding by collecting any groundwater that forms around the foundation of your home and diverting it away from it.
Installed either externally along a foundation footer or internally beneath a concrete floor, these systems consist of crush-resistant PVC pipe with holes on one side that is then covered with washed gravel for covert operation.
Internal Drain Tile System
An interior drain tile system for your basement provides an effective waterproofing solution by diverting any unwanted water that attempts to enter your living spaces into a sump pump system, where excess water is eventually expelled from your foundation.
An interior drain tile system for your basement helps maintain dry soil conditions and prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up against your foundation walls or slab, which would otherwise force moisture through concrete wall cracks and bow your foundation inward over time. By eliminating hydrostatic pressure altogether, your basement will remain protected and dry for years to come.
If you notice salt-like residue on the walls (efflorescence), or pools of water around the perimeter of your home, an interior drain tile system could be an easy and cost-effective way to protect your foundation from water infiltration.
Basement drain tile systems consist of perforated plastic or PVC pipes with narrow openings designed to allow water through while filtering out dirt and debris. You can locate them either indoors or outdoors depending on your needs and budget.
An interior drain tile system offers several distinct advantages over exterior systems: It can often be retrofitted into existing foundations without disturbing your basement walls; exterior systems, however, typically require excavation around your foundation walls and may not fit seamlessly with what already exists.
Exterior Drain Tile System
Building a new home doesn’t have to be hard; an exterior drain tile system makes the perfect choice because it requires no digging inside of the basement walls. Also referred to as French Drain or Weeping Tile depending on where you reside, it is installed around the foundation perimeter and designed to channel water away from your home via perforated pipe with sloped bottom directing rainwater from soil surrounding your property out into daylight somewhere on your property line.
Water reaching this point no longer carries the weight of soil against it to press against your foundation walls; instead it forms a more gentle slope that allows water to run more freely and reduces hydrostatic pressure – which could otherwise lead to cracks in basement walls and eventually structural damage within your home.
A basement drain tile system can be retrofitted into your home in one of three ways: either above the concrete slab, inside the slab edge or beneath your basement floor. Pipes positioned under your basement floor collect groundwater that accumulates, with perforated pipes channeling it towards a sump pit or other discharge point for dispensation.
An interior basement drain tile system can be an excellent option for older homes that already feature cracks in the foundation, or finished basements where cracks have formed in your man cave or play room. This system works to protect against heavy rainfall or snowfall that might flood both areas of your basement, keeping everything safe.
Sump Pumps
Drain tile systems – whether interior or exterior – cannot function without an accompanying pump to expel water once it arrives at your basement. When activated, this pump channels away excess liquid quickly and safely – protecting both you and your property against damage and costly repairs.
Pumps work via a motor-driven impeller that spins in a circular motion when activated by the float switch, producing centrifugal force to push water towards its discharge pipe fitting and away from your house foundation wall. For optimal results, this pipe must extend 10 feet beyond it in either direction from its location.
When purchasing a sump pump for your basement, be sure to consider durability and quality as well as any available additional features such as alarms, automatic switches, silencing check valves or adjustable float switches. A reliable manufacturer should offer warranties and customer reviews to assist you in making an informed purchase decision.
If you plan on installing your pump yourself, take precautionary steps by purchasing all necessary tools and having them onsite before beginning the task. As this is a large project which may involve using tools like jackhammers and leather gloves, be sure to have everything prepared prior to getting underway. Once complete, test out your work by pouring water into the pit to observe how the water flows outward.
Maintenance
If you own an older home, chances are someone has recommended installing drain tile for the basement. This system ensures that during times of heavy rainfall or snowfall, your basement and crawl spaces won’t become flooded and helps protect foundation from hydrostatic pressure damages.
Hydrostatic pressure occurs when there is too much water in the soil than can be absorbed, forcing its way against whatever comes into contact with it, such as your foundation walls. This excess of water exerts force that pushes against these walls, often resulting in cracks, bowing and bulging which weaken it enough for collapse of your basement. However, having a basement drain system in place helps relieve this pressure by providing an alternate path for its path through.
Drain tile can be misleading in its name since it doesn’t consist of actual tiles at all; rather, it consists of perforated pipes placed underground around your house’s footing to keep dirt and rocks from clogging the drain system. They’re sometimes covered with gravel to further ensure efficient functioning.
Exterior drainage systems can help your basement stay dry, but they’re not without their risks. Over time, gravel may erode away, necessitating replacement. Also, improper sizing could mean your sump pump fails to effectively extract rainfall; so for optimal performance it is recommended that a professional assess your exterior drain tile system on an annual basis.