Drain tile installation either inside or outside the basement wall relieves groundwater pressure to reduce foundation leakage risks and provide redundancy for basement waterproofing efforts.
This type of system should ideally be installed during home construction or shortly thereafter; however, retrofitting an existing basement may also be possible. It works by redirecting ground water into a sump pit or non-perforated pipe which transports moisture directly to daylight, storm sewers or dry wells.
Prepare the Area
Drain tile can be an extremely effective method for protecting basement water damage. Although not necessary in all homes, drain tile installation is a smart solution if your moisture issues become excessive in your home and warrants more serious attention than simple basement waterproofing systems can provide. Additionally, drain tile installation may even increase its effectiveness over time by becoming part of a longer-term waterproofing solution such as the ShielDrain System(r) for greater peace of mind.
A drain tile system consists of perforated pipe installed beneath the basement floor and crawlspace flooring around foundation footings, with enough slope to carry collected water downhill towards a sump pump or drywell. A drain tile system relieves hydrostatic pressure that would otherwise lead to water seeping through floor cracks and joints.
Before installing drain tile in any basement, a thorough examination must take place to identify any evidence of moisture or water infiltration. This can be accomplished by inspecting walls and floors for damp spots, stains or efflorescence; or by looking out for any potential issues such as foundation cracks or plumbing leaks.
Once inspection of the area has been completed, its preparation should begin. This includes clearing away furniture or any items that might obstruct installation as well as any baseboard or trim that could obstruct it. A bed of gravel should then be laid over the drain pipe with more soil backfilled around it.
Dig the Trench
Before beginning drain tile installation, it is advisable to consult a professional. This ensures the system is correctly installed and can effectively channel water away from the foundation of your home – helping avoid future issues like basement flooding, dampness on walls and damp stains on floor, efflorescence or puddles on perimeter floors. In addition, an experienced technician can identify sources of infiltration into basement floors, as well as providing solutions.
Implementation of an interior drain tile system begins by digging a trench along the inside perimeter of your basement or crawl space, making sure that it slopes towards a collection point while not pooling in vulnerable areas. Next comes filling it up with gravel so a perforated pipe can sit above it before placing a sump pump at its collection point to efficiently remove and transport collected water.
An effective basement drain system provides an economical and practical way of controlling moisture and water infiltration in homes. Installed during new-home construction, it enables maximum flexibility with system design while keeping costs at a minimum. Although installation can be complex and time consuming, following all steps closely ensures long-term drainage success.
Lay the Drain Tile
Drain tile is a form of drainage system commonly installed inside or outside a home to collect ground water and divert it away from its foundation, thus reducing hydrostatic pressure build-up that causes hydrostatic pressure and seepage problems.
Inside of a new house, drain tile should be laid before the concrete floors are laid – this is the quickest and simplest way to install it! Additionally, this method eliminates excavation costs when retrofitted into an existing property.
Exterior drain tile should be added after the foundation footer has been installed in a new house, although it can be added during construction as well. Exterior drain tile helps relieve pressure caused by oversaturated soil around your foundation as well as excess groundwater from weather-related rises in water table elevation.
The system consists of perforated pipes connected by geotextile fabric that surround them on top of gravel or aggregate beds and are situated atop them to prevent fine soil particles from infiltrating and clogging the pipes. Finally, more gravel is added and backfilled over them before using a sump pump to transport away collected water from drain tiles. For DIY project completion, ensure you have adequate tools such as jackhammers and leather gloves.
Backfill the Trench
Drain tile is a plumbing system designed to reduce hydrostatic pressure under a home and help eliminate leakage through basement floor cracks. It may be installed either interiorly or externally of a house depending on its use; typically during construction but also retrofitted into existing homes as a preventative measure against future leaks. Water collected around a home typically goes to either its sump basket, dry well or storm sewer for collection and redirection into these water bodies.
Installing a basement drain tile system begins with carefully assessing and identifying problem areas, to help determine the most effective approach to solving them, such as sealing any existing cracks in the walls or applying waterproofing sealant to prevent moisture issues. After these preliminary preparations have been made, contractors will dig a trench around the basement perimeter and install drain tile pipes accordingly.
A layer of gravel is added to the bottom of a trench before inserting a perforated drain tile pipe with perforations into it. Soil is backfilled carefully so as not to disrupt or cover over its path; and finally it is checked to ensure that its slope meets with that of designated drainage area/sump pump, before finally covering with geotextile fabric for protection.