No home can resist water on its own; rainwater, groundwater, snow melt and even leaky septic systems can all cause significant foundational damage, flooding, mold growth and basement leakage issues for homeowners. While not every home requires drain tile protection, new construction homes or existing homes that need improved protection should strongly consider having one installed as soon as possible.
An article entitled, “When is Drain Tile Necessary,” details how a drainage system protects homes against basement flooding and crawl space damage as well as concrete, CMU or brick foundation damage. A drainage system collects excess water in basement or crawl spaces before channeling it away from foundation or into sump pit for disposal – providing protection from heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt, as well as helping stop yards flooded due to excessive rainfall or melting snow from becoming flood damaged and ruining properties and lawns.
Drain tile is typically composed of perforated pipe installed beneath the foundation of your home, often outside or below your basement floor, in your crawl space, or both. While typically utilized by new home construction projects, drain tiles can also be added to older properties as an effective drainage solution.
Pipes constructed of corrugated flexible PVC or rigid PVC are perforated to let water in, before being covered with washed gravel to filter out soil particles that might enter its perforations and to help filter out perforations more effectively. A sump pump then acts to capture all that excess water, pump it out of your home system, and out into nature.
Field drainage has been around since ancient civilizations used clay tiles to remove excess water and promote crop growth. In America, field drainage was introduced by Scottish immigrant John Johnston’s installation of his drainage system on his farm in 1838 – leading to increased wheat production as a result. Today, field drainage remains important for farmers who value the quality of their land’s ecosystems and water sources.
Drainage systems can help reduce erosion in fields and curb runoff of some nutrients – including phosphorus which contributes to surface waters becoming over-eutrophicated. The system also helps reduce nitrogen’s impact on aquatic ecosystems by slowing its flow. This improves soil health, allows plants to absorb nutrients more effectively and requires less fertilizers be applied on fields. As a result, drainage systems produce greater crop yields and healthier ecosystems; consequently, many states now mandate installation of drainage systems in all new homes. Though the expense may be prohibitive for some homeowners, installing a drain tile system is still wise for anyone wanting to protect their investment and home. New construction provides an ideal time for installing this protection measure as the drain tiles can be built directly into the foundation of your house.