How do foundation drains work

Although flexible corrugated plastic pipe can be used, care must be taken to prevent it from being crushed during backfilling.

The moisture content of the soil placed near the foundation has a great effect on the water drainage from footing as the moisture content is dependent on the type of soil placed. According to the U. Department of Housing and Urban Development, trees should be planted no closer to the foundation than their eventual height.

This prevents tree roots from filling perimeter drains and inhibits the tree from sucking all the water from the soil, which could lead to settlement. Drain pipes should be positioned alongside the footing—the best spot is near its base. Although tile doesn't need to be sloping, low spots which can be fill ed with silt must be avoided. This type of foundation drain uses a perforated pipe that is laid beside the foundation wall structure. The slope of the pipe is kept away from the structure.

The backfilling is done with porous materials such as gravel for easy flow of standing water from the surface to the drain pipe. This is a highly effective water drainage system. A pipe is installed around the perimeter of the foundation walls on level with the footing. This pipe collects any water that would have leaked through the top of the footing into the basement and drains it away from the foundation walls.

Join Join TheConstructor to ask questions, answer questions, write articles, and connect with other people. If the water is discharging immediately next to the foundation or if the ground is sloped towards the foundation, the water is seeping back into the ground and recirculating through the foundation drain.

Extend the discharge pipe so the water runs away from the house. Sump Pump is Very Noisy. Test the sump pump as described below. If the sump pump is working fine, try to determine if the pump itself is noisy or if the noise is coming from the piping. While a pump replacement may be necessary, often loose piping or piping that is contact with other pipes or HVAC ducts can transmit noise that can be easily fixed with added support or putting just a bit of distance between the two objects.

How to Test Your Sump Pump Test your sump regularly, spring is a good time to test this before the snow melts. Remove the cover. Is the basin dry? If the basin is dry and you have no problems with basement water seepage, congratulations! You have a dry location and not much to worry about. You should still finish the sump pump test If the basin is dry and you have basement seepage, your foundation drains may be clogged. Contact a plumber to inspect. The basin typically will have some water in it and you will likely see water trickling in through the connected foundation drains.

Pour water in the basin. If the pump runs, the water level should drop quickly, and the pump should turn off automatically.

Test the outlet by unplugging the sump pump and plugging in a small appliance that you know works such as a lamp. If the lamp lights, the sump pump is faulty. If the lamp does not light: If the outlet is a ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI check for a fault indicator light and reset. Recheck the outlet. If the outlet still does not work or the outlet is not a GFCI, check your electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker or a circuit breaker that is turned off.

Battery backup systems are the most common and most widely available. A water pressure backup is a pump that runs off your municipal water supply pressure during a power outage.

You can also just plug the sump pump into a portable gas-powered generator. Pros of a Backup System for Sump Pump. Battery: Automatically operates including when you are not home. Most easy of the three to install. If so, your foundation drain may no longer be doing its job. What does a foundation drain do? The foundation drain often called a French drain or weeping tile collects and drains groundwater from around the footing of a structure, to keep it from pooling there.

It consists of a perforated pipe installed all around the footing that supports the foundation walls, which captures water and drains it either toward the storm sewer or a catch basin or soak pit sometimes called a soakaway at some distance from the building.

The vast majority of homes built these days include foundation drains, but many of those built before the s lack them, as the practice was not widespread. Watch for the symptoms If your foundation drain is not doing its job properly, there will be signs, such as significantly higher humidity levels in the basement.

This may even lead to mould or rot on the floor and the lower parts of walls. On bare concrete surfaces, you might notice whitish crystalline powder , a phenomenon known as efflorescence. It runs through electricity or sometimes even battery power. Water damage can range from cosmetic to catastrophic — and some of it might not be covered by insurance. Noticing water spots or mold in and around your basement? That could be a sign of something more dangerous for the structure of your property.

For instance, without proper foundation drainage around basement walls, water can saturate the soil beneath a building or home. As a result, the ground will shift. This movement can cause foundation cracks. Think of when changes in weather cause roads to crack.

Moisture can easily penetrate further into the property when there is structural damage, making mold more likely and invasive. Mold can potentially be dangerous to your health if it goes unnoticed for too long. This CDC article on mold and dampness explains the ramifications of prolonged mold exposure. In addition to protecting your property from dangerous and irreversible structural damage, drainage systems can also help with soil care.

They can prevent erosion, standing water, and other landscaping issues. Rainwater can displace soil from your yard. Therefore, the erosion can result in a lack of soil depth, and ruin your landscaping. It can also pool, creating standing water. As a result, the standing water drowns plants and other landscaping. A foundation drainage system is a necessary part of protecting the structural integrity of any home or building.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each method. Interior drainage systems can be easier and safer to install and maintain over time. Different types of soil or clay on the property can affect the foundation and drainage systems. Clay, for example, is a very expansive material, making it tough to deal with.