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What Are Weep Holes?

drilling weep holes into a basement wall

Holes and gaps in your home are damaging, but strategically placed openings can help prevent water and foundation damage. It may sound counterproductive, but drilling weep holes into your basement walls is a beneficial step of basement waterproofing.

Learn what weep holes are, how they factor into protecting your home, and how local basement waterproofing professionals can help.

Weep Holes Explained 

Water can collect behind your foundation walls and lead to structural damage and moisture problems. However, if your basement had weep holes, you could be at ease knowing that this kind of problem wouldn’t pop up. 

Weep holes are, as the name suggests, holes that allow water to drain from within your basement walls. When they are drilled, water exits through them and flows directly into an interior drainage system.

Weep holes can alleviate pressure on your foundation walls, but they need to be properly sized to overcome surface tension. They are most useful during heavy rains or extremely humid days when a larger amount of water tends to collect within the walls. 

Should I Drill Weep Holes? 

You should not drill weep holes by yourself, especially if you don’t have a drainage system in place. It’s always best to call a professional before doing anything structural to your basement.

It’s important to know what material was used to build your foundation and basement walls to determine whether you need weep holes. If your basement walls were constructed with concrete masonry units (CMU blocks), you should add weep holes to your waterproofing system.

Even though these blocks form a strong structure, each of them contains hollow cells. When water leaks into the wall, it slowly fills out these cells and boosts the hydrostatic pressure. Eventually, this pressure will cause water to leak into the basement and damage the foundation. Although you cannot eliminate this pressure completely, you can lower it and keep it under control with weep holes.

The purpose of these holes is to efficiently drain water from the CMU blocks and direct it toward your drainage system. When it reaches the drainage system, the water will be directed to the sump pump, and it will finally leave your home through the discharge line. 

Consider drilling weep holes if your basement frequently leaks or if you are planning to finish it.

Weep Hole Installation 

Weep holes are drilled towards the bottom of the wall. When the installation process is successfully completed, these holes will remove water from the walls and direct it toward the BasementGutter™ system, Tar Heel Basement Systems’ exclusive interior drainage system. 

BasementGutter™ is a clog-free interior perimeter drainage channel designed to capture water seepage through walls and leaks along the cove joint, as well as excess water coming through the weep holes. It is almost invisible when installed so it doesn’t affect the visual aesthetics of the space.

Weep holes are not the most glamorous waterproofing solution, but they are an effective one. With these simple holes, you will alleviate pressure on your foundation walls and prevent damage from occurring. 

Get Trusted Waterproofing Solutions Near You!

Are you satisfied with your basement’s water management solutions? If you’d like to upgrade them and add weep holes to your strategy, don’t opt for a DIY project. Instead, call professionals in North Carolina and be at ease knowing that the job has been successfully and properly done.

Contact Tar Heel Basement Systems to schedule a free inspection. After a thorough evaluation of your home, you will receive a free estimate detailing customized solutions designed to keep water out of the basement and protect your foundation from damage. 

Basement Waterproofing FAQs

Water intrusion can be due to wall or floor cracks, seepage, internal leaks, inadequate landscaping, and gutters. Reach out to Tar Heel Basement Systems for a free inspection to determine the cause and the best repair solutions. 

If you want to prevent your basement from flooding after a rainstorm, you need to install effective solutions like interior drainage, a sump pump system, a wall vapor barrier, and a dehumidifier. Keep in mind, these tools should never be installed with DIY methods. Work with a professional if you want to stop basement flooding effectively.

Costs vary based on basement size and required materials. We offer free inspections, upfront pricing, and financing options, ensuring clarity on expenditures. Contact us for more details. 

Related Resources

Holly Richards-Purpura

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.

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