How does drain tile work

Drain tile systems are effective in creating a path of least resistance for water to follow, meaning water is unlikely to seep into your basement via cracks in your foundation or slab.

Drain tile systems today consist of crush-resistant plastic usually PVC pipes that are perforated with holes to allow ground water in. It is best to install drain tile after the foundation footer of a new home has been laid. Pipe is typically laid in a trench that runs alongside the footer. Next, the drain tile is covered with a layer of washed gravel. Get A Free Inspection. View Larger Image. What is a drain tile system? Drain tile installation: Interior vs.

Two types of drain tile pipes: rigid PVC vs. Corrugated flexible pipe Corrugated flexible pipe has small slits all over the pipe. How does a drain tile system work? How much does a drain tile system cost? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email. Service Area. Nebraska iowa kansas missouri. Top Cities We Serve. Call Now. This pipe has small slits on all sides of the pipe. This allows water to enter from any direction, but sand, grit, and soil particles are mostly blocked. One recommendation to further protect the pipe from a possible blockage a fabric sleeve can be used along with the pipe.

Filters are designed to be changed. They eventually get clogged. You will not be able to change the filter unless you dig up the drainage system. Regardless of the type of pipe used it will usually be 4 inches in diameter. This is the industry standard for residential drainage, but other diameters are available up to a maximum of 18 inches. Drain Tile can be retro-fitted for an older home, both internally and externally, but installation during the build phase is best.

It is ideal to lay drain tile in conjunction with the foundation footing of a new home. This gives maximum flexibility with system design and keeps cost to a minimum.

Installers place the pipe in the trench and then cover it with washed gravel. The gravel is then covered with a layer of porous fabric such as landscape matting.

The fabric allows water through but prevents soil from clogging up the drainage channel or the pipe. After the fabric is in place it is covered in soil and brought to ground level.

Although easier to install during construction, it is possible to retro-fit exterior drain tile. The process is disruptive and costly but often resolves an ongoing water problem. This method involves digging a drainage trench around the outside of the building at the foundation level with a large backhoe truck.

It is a labor-intensive process and causes considerable outside disruption. To gain access to the foundations, it may be necessary to remove features such as pathways, decking, and trees. External installation takes a considerable amount of time, money, risk to structural damage, and short-term results with no long-term solution. Contractors will rarely offer a guarantee for over years. Longer guarantees mean they have more confidence in their work. The alternative is to use the internal method.

This is a method that causes internal disruption but is the most common method for a retro-fit system. Prior to installation, the basement area needs to be as empty as possible.

In finished basements, that includes removal of floor covering and sheetrock along the bottom portion of the walls, and any fixed cabinets. Once clear, all items are moved to the center of the room. Everything is covered including light fixtures and smoke detectors with a plastic sheets.

A perimeter trench and sump-pit will be jackhammered out of the concrete foundation slab and below ground. This is a time-consuming and noisy process, but much faster than exterior excavation. The pipe is then laid in the trench and will direct any groundwater into the sump pit. These pipes are covered with a foot or more of loose gravel that easily allows water to drain down in.

On top of that gravel tar paper or another fine screen material is installed to prevent silt from seeping down into the tile pipes. On top of the screen dirt is piled up to help weigh it down and give the whole system a normal appearance.

Drain tile functions very simply. It creates a path of least resistance for water around a house to follow. The water runs down the side of the house and notices that it can run down just a little bit further down to the drain tile. Once there it runs down into the pipes and continues downward out to the drainage outlet. Every application requires a different setup of drain tile, but the systems always work on the same principle. Water has a more convenient way to flow and redirects itself to a better location than your home or your field.

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