An internal drain tile system is a system of pipes installed around the perimeter of your basement that collects water seeping through the walls and floor and drains it away from your foundation. This system is installed on the inside of your basement, which is why it’s called an “internal” drain tile system.
If you have ever had water in your basement, you know how much of a nuisance it can be. Not only is it a pain to clean up, but it can also cause serious damage to your belongings and your home’s structure. Basement waterproofing is a necessary step to take to prevent water from ever entering your basement in the first place.
How a Drain Tile System Works
An internal drain tile system is one way to waterproof your basement. Here’s how it works:
An internal drain tile system is a system of pipes installed around the perimeter of your basement that collects water seeping through the walls and floor and drains it away from your foundation. This system is installed on the inside of your basement, which is why it’s called an “internal” drain tile system.
If you have ever had water in your basement, you know how much of a nuisance it can be. Not only is it a pain to clean up, but it can also cause serious damage to your belongings and your home’s structure. Basement waterproofing is a necessary step to take to prevent water from ever entering your basement in the first place.
Perimeter Drainpipe Installation
The first step in installing an internal drain tile system is to dig a trench around the perimeter of your basement. This trench needs to be at least 18 inches deep for the pipe to be properly installed. The width of the trench will depend on the size of your basement; generally, the larger the basement, the wider the trench needs to be. Once the trench has been dug, a perforated pipe will be placed in the bottom of the trench and covered with gravel. This pipe will collect any water that seeps through the walls or floor and drains it away from your foundation.
While drain tile systems are relatively simple in principle, they require a high degree of skill and experience to install correctly. In particular, it is critical to ensure that the Drain Tile is properly pitched so that water flows towards the sump pit. Furthermore, the Drain Tile should be installed on a bed of gravel to promote drainage and prevent clogging. For these reasons, it is best to leave the installation of a Drain Tile system to a professional.
Sump Pump Installation
The second step in installing an internal drain tile system is to install a sump pump in your basement. The sump pump will be connected to the perforated pipe that was installed in the previous step. When water enters the sump pit, the sump pump will automatically turn on and pump the water out of your basement and away from your foundation.
Sump pumps come in many shapes and sizes. The three most common types are the pedestal, submersible, and the trash pump. The trash pump is designed to pump out large amounts of water and is not typically used in residential applications. The submersible pump is the most popular type of sump pump because it is easy to install and efficient at pumping water out of the sump pit. A backup sump pump is a good idea for anyone who lives in a high-risk area for flooding. A backup pump will automatically turn on when the primary pump fails, ensuring that your basement remains dry.
Discharge Line Installation
The third and final step in installing an internal drain tile system is to install a discharge line from the sump pump to an area outside of your home where the water can be safely discharged away from your foundation. This discharge line needs to be properly sloped so that water can flow freely through it without backing up into your home.
Internal drain tile systems are an effective way to waterproof basements by collecting water seeping through walls or floors and draining it away from foundations before it has a chance to enter homes and cause damage. If you think you may have a problem with water seeping into your basement, contact a professional waterproofing company like Metric Marketing today for a free consultation!
Learn more how to waterproof your basement.