A Homeowners’ Guide to Basement Drains

Exterior Drain Tile

If your Raleigh, NC home is still under construction, installing an exterior drain tile around the outside perimeter of the foundation is a practical choice. This pipe will collect groundwater and direct it away from your property before it manages to cause any damage. 

After they have poured the foundation, your contractor will place a flexible perforated drain pipe around the foundation at the bottom of the wall. They will also place gravel around your pipe and above it. The purpose of the gravel is to prevent dirt from entering the drain.

The exterior drain collects the water that pools at the bottom of the foundation walls and directs it to a sump pit, from where it will leave your property. While exterior drain is an effective waterproofing method and it is relatively inexpensive when it is installed during the construction phase; it can be tricky to install once the home is built. 

If you opt for this option once your home has already been built, a contractor will need to excavate the soil around the foundation, dig a collection pit, and install the drain tile. This usually costs a lot more and can destroy sections of your landscaping.

One issue that many homeowners run into with exterior drains is that they tend to clog over time if the contractor does not use adequate gravel.

Interior French Drains 

If you have lived in your home for a while and have noticed that your basement has water problems, installing interior French drains is the best solution. While it works similarly to an exterior drain tile, the interior drain has more advantages.

It consists of a perforated pipe that directs the water to the sump pit from where it can be pumped to the surface and away from your home. Instead of placing it around the outside perimeter of your home, your contractor will install it along the interior perimeter of the basement below floor level. 

In some cases, drains are covered with a grate, while in other situations where the basement is used only for storage, they are left uncovered. Interior French drains cost much less than exterior drains, and won’t disrupt your landscaping in any way. 

There are several distinct types of interior drains, each of them designed to address a different, unique problem. BasementGutter™ Below Floor Drain is installed below the floor slab, on top of the foundation footing. Why is this important? Since this is the mud-free zone, you won’t have to worry about clogging.  

This type of basement drain collects water that seeps through retaining walls and drains it to your sump pit. Regardless of whether you have foundation walls made of blocks or poured concrete, it’s beneficial to your home.

If you have iron bacteria in your water, you could use an IOS Basement Drain. Iron bacteria are notorious for leaving an awful smell behind, staining everything they touch, and creating clogs. This version of the BasementGutter™ system includes an extra-wide drain channel and larger drainage openings, as well as an exposed, removable lid for easier maintenance.

If your goal is to stop flooding from an outer entryway such as a garage door or doorway, BasementGutter™ Grated Drain Pipe will span the opening and prevent water from entering your basement. With Grated Drain Pipe, there is no need to worry about tripping since it is installed smoothly across the floor.

Floor Drains 

This type of basement drain is installed during the construction of the home, most often in the utility area. Its purpose is to drain away any excess water from the basement. Since the concrete floor around the floor drain slopes towards it, all the water is directed into the floor drain. This type of drain is extremely useful since it will lead water to a collection pit, regardless of whether you have a broken heater or a dripping condensation line. 

These days, installing a floor drain in your basement is considered a standard in new construction, so you don’t have to worry about any extra costs. However, if your home is already built, this drain is difficult to install. This is mostly because, during the construction of a basement, the contractor will create a gentle slope toward the drain. On the other hand, existing basement floors are level, so even if you install a floor drain, the water from your basement won’t run toward it. Also, the floor drain won’t prevent water from leaking through the basement walls.

Are you interested in learning more about basement drains? Or maybe you wish to waterproof your basement? Whichever the case, we are here for you. Contact experts at Tar Heel Basement Systems and schedule a free inspection and quote.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.