Basement drain tiles are an integral component of any waterproofing system for basements, relieving hydrostatic pressure that causes foundation walls to crack and helping prevent flooding in the basement.
Installed within a trench dug around the perimeter of a crawlspace, lower level or basement, it is usually covered by filter fabric and gravel to provide optimal performance.
Dig the Trench
A basement drain tile system helps relieve hydrostatic pressure under a home, helping eliminate the risk of seeping through floor cracks or joints. Installation options range from installing inside or outside foundation footings – as well as retrofitting existing homes.
Basement waterproofing often uses weeping tile systems such as French drains and perimeter drains to keep foundations dry. They may be called variously weeping tile systems, weeping tiles, drainage tiles or perimeter drains and have several names associated with them – weeping tile is often referred to as weeping tile in French drain systems or drainage tile in drainage tile systems.
Installing this system on a new home requires digging a trench that measures approximately one foot wide and two feet deep; once dug, this trench should be lined with gravel before perforated drainage pipe wrapped in fabric is laid over top of it and directed toward the sump pit. After installation is complete, more gravel should be spread on top to cover and protect the drain and prevent any potential blockages caused by dust or soil entering its path.
Seepageseal offers contractors that specialize in this task who can analyze a site, determine natural slope and drainage paths, excavate it to dig trenches for drain pipe installation as well as build sump pits and drainage pipes for maximum results.
Lay the Pipe
Installation of a drain tile system during new construction helps relieve hydrostatic pressure and eliminate two common issues for basements: water entering through floor cracks or cove joints and ground water that rises with changes to weather-related water tables.
A typical drain tile system consists of a pipe running from the footings of your foundation down to a dry well, where water fills it and flows by gravity towards another part of the yard. For optimal performance, lots should slope at least one percent – or an inch every ten feet.
No one should attempt an interior drain tile installation without prior experience and access to all necessary tools. Mistakes made can have serious repercussions for your home’s structural integrity; for this reason it is advised that this task be left to professionals such as Seepageseal.
A basement drain tile system works to prevent moisture from entering the basement by channeling it away to a sump pit or designated wastewater area, where a pump then removes and disposes of it outside. This solution works best when combined with a vapor barrier and other forms of waterproofing solutions such as waterproof paints for the walls or membranes in place in your basement, making this an integral component of any waterproofing solution and should always be considered when problems are discovered.
Cover the Pipe with Gravel
if your basement leak or any serious water intrusion problem, now might be the time to have an interior drain tile system installed in your home. These perforated plastic pipes buried beneath your foundation can direct groundwater away from infiltrating into your house, helping reduce hydrostatic pressure that builds when there is more water than soil can absorb, pushing against foundation walls and leading to cracks that create entryways for more water to enter through cracks in walls, leading to further water ingress.
As part of a new home’s construction process, installing basement drain tile should help to save labor costs. Although adding this system later may still be feasible, more extensive excavation and demolition will be required, making the task more challenging to manage than had it been planned from the outset.
Once the pipe is installed, a bed of gravel should be spread on top to help divert dirt that washes off your home away from its perforated drainage pipe and prevent it from clogging over time. When selecting the gravel to use for this step, ensure it has been washed thoroughly to avoid abrasions on your pipe, while make sure it covers weed barriers with straw or tar paper (not plastic) so particles won’t clog it and render your drain tile system ineffective.
Install the Sump Pump
Though it may be tempting, homeowners should leave installing basement drain tile to professionals. This task involves many tools and heavy physical labor; if you plan on undertaking it on your own, ensure all supplies are prepared ahead of time to avoid last minute shopping trips and save yourself both time and effort.
Basement drain tiles provide relief from hydrostatic pressure that pushes against foundation walls, potentially leading to cracks and fissures in the walls and floor joints. Furthermore, they channel water away from homes so it won’t seep into their walls and floor joints and cause further cracking or fissures in them.
Interior drain tile may no longer be mandatory under building codes, but builders frequently opt to include it when building homes that experience serious leaking problems. Similar to exterior weeping tile, interior drain tile channels groundwater into a sump pit or storage tank instead of flowing overland toward storm sewers.
Installing interior drain tile begins by first excavating a trench around your foundation footings, filling it with gravel, then placing tile pipe wrapped in fabric on top. After which a sump pump will be connected to pump out any excess water while additionally passive waterproofing measures may also be added at this point.