Basement drain tile (or simply “drain tiles”) are an interior water drainage system installed around your home’s foundation to prevent water intrusion into its basement. Though most often associated with new construction projects, interior drainage tiles can also be easily installed in existing homes as they’re much cheaper and less invasive than exterior drainage methods which often involve excavation work and even potential demolition work.
A drain tile works in a straightforward fashion: it redirects water away from your home’s foundation and into its pipe network, eliminating hydrostatic pressure that causes cracks or fissures in basement walls and can eventually lead to the concrete slab shifting inward toward your home and even eventually cracking completely. If left unchecked, hydrostatic pressure will continue to build until it causes your foundation to move completely or shift further apart, leaving cracks or fissures and hydrostatic pressure to build unabated.
Therefore, basement drain tile should ideally be installed during the initial construction phase – before this issue has had time to arise. Although installation in existing homes is possible as well, doing it later on may prove more costly and complex than beforehand.
One effective method for installing basement drain tile is through the use of a “sump pit”. This involves digging a deep trench at the edge of your home’s foundation and filling it with washed gravel to form a sump pit that then collects any rainwater that pools under and around its foundation, funnelling it through perforated pipe into it before pumping it away from your property.
An alternative to sump pits is implementing a french drain system. This involves linking together pipes in either a grid or ring formation in order to direct excess water away from your foundation, rather than collecting against its walls and foundation. Although more cost-effective, implementing such a system still presents its own set of challenges and can require considerable planning from homeowners.
If you are considering installing an interior basement drain tile system in your home, it is wise to consult your local building official first. They can assist with determining whether a permit or inspection is needed as well as provide details about drainage systems in your neighborhood. In addition, drain tile systems provide an ideal pathway for dangerous radon gas to escape your basement into the air above; for this reason it should always be completed along with an effective radon mitigation system.