Installing An Effective Weeping Tile System

DO Install Your Weeping Tile System Out Of The "Mud Zone"

After your foundation was built, the builders of your home used soil to fill in a level space for your concrete slab floor.

Any weeping tile system that's installed in your home should be kept above that layer of dirt to prevent clogging.

Why This Works:

If weeping tile is placed directly in mud, some of that mud will wash into the system. Eventually, this will build up, potentially leading to a clogged drain. At JL Basement Waterproofing Co. - Bessemer, we prefer to install our drain systems out of the mud zone to help keep the system working properly.

DON'T Leave An Open Gap Along The Perimeter Of Your Basement Floor

Whether your basement walls are leaking now or not, you'll want your system to be able to collect water that floods through cracks, seeps through the concrete, or leaks through the basement windows.

Many contractors will try to address this issue by installing a large open gap along the entire perimeter of your basement floor. This is the right idea and the wrong approach to this challenge.

Do This Instead!

A better approach is to include a wall flange with your drain that extends above the floor by 3/8". By including this in your system, you protect your drainage channel from dirt and debris swept in from the floor.

If we're also installing one of our basement wall products for you, we can integrate the wall system with this flange, so that all water from the walls is directed to your sump pump.

DO Install A Basement Sump Pump

Some contractors will avoid installing a sump pump by designing a "gravity drain" to drain water away without any mechanical components.

While this does work in some uncommon situations, Basement Systems prefers to drain flooding water to a sump pump.

Why This Works:

To work properly, gravity drains must be directed downhill. If your basement is underground, it is very unlikely that this will be possible for you.

A sump pump system can be used on any home -- the pump will always be able to pump the water away, no matter how far underground your basement is.

Sump pump systems also clog much less often than gravity drains do. As the water is being pumped out of the system quickly, rather than trickling downwards with gravity alone, there is much less time for sediments to build up on the bottom of your discharge pipe.

Additionally, a sump pump can much greater volumes of water when compared to a gravity drain. At Basement Systems, we've observed that drainage channels being overrun with overwhelming amounts of water is one of the top three causes of basement flooding.

Don't Install Your Weeping Tile Along The Foundation's Exterior

There are some contractors in the business that will insist that the only way to waterproof a basement is from the outside of the foundation.

Installing weeping tile along the base of a foundation will require the contractor to excavate your entire basement, exposing the base of the foundation so the drain can be placed there.

This excavation process drives up the installation's cost dramatically. It also means serious disruption to everything on the outside of your home, including gardens, sidewalks, patios, and other landscaping.

After the drain has been installed, the dirt will be returned to the hole, piling up on top of the drainage system.

Eventually, some of that dirt will make its way into your drainage system, leading to clogs. Once the system is clogged, the only way to service it is to dig out the foundation again.

Do This Instead!

You can save half the cost of basement waterproofing by installing your system from the interior instead. Interior weeping tile installation will not disrupt your yard or landscaping, and the entire job can usually be completed in a day or two.

DO Hire A Professional

Remember that old adage "Jack of all trades, master of none"? That certainly applies here.

Much of the work of professional waterproofers is to fix the failed waterproofing attempts of plumbers, contractors, and homeowners.

Waterproofing is a major home improvement investment, and it's best handled by a professional. We recommend that you speak with a certified waterproofer about your problem before making a final decision on your home.

Why This Works:

Professional waterproofers are experts in the industry -- this is what they do every day, and they do it better than anyone else.

Additionally, a reliable company will offer a written warranty with their system -- one that can be transferred to the next owner your home. This is a major bargaining point when selling your house!

Don't Install Generic PVC Weeping Tile

Many homeowners are deceived by the lower cost of PVC pipe materials, when compared to a more modern drainage system.

At Basement Systems, we strongly recommend against PVC drainage systems for basement applications. They don't work well, and they'll cost you more in the end.

Do This Instead!

Modern weeping tile systems have been drastically improved over old-fashioned PVC pipe. They install faster, and they fail less.

Large, clumsy PVC systems will require the installer to jackhammer a larger section of your floor and dig deeper along the floor to install the pipe.

After the jackhammering is done, there will be more debris to remove from the basement. Once the pipe is installed, more of your floor will need to be restored with new concrete.

While the ticket price of PVC pipe may be lower, you'll pay more once the work is done, the debris is removed, and the extra concrete is placed. So you didn't really save any money at all!