Drain Tile

Drain tile is the interior version of a French drain, which is essentially a trench dug in the ground to allow standing water to flow away from an area. Drain tile is constructed on the inside of your basement at the point where the walls and floors meet. Water is then directed to a sump basin for removal via a sump pump.

Basement drain tile is installed by jack hammering up portions of the concrete floor so access can be gained to the area below the floor. A trench is dug and filled with a porous pipe and gravel so that water can enter and be funneled to the sump pump system. The pipe is usually covered with loose gravel to hide the pipe and filter out any large debris that could clog the pipe or the sump pump.

Foundation drain tile is the best method for removing water from your basement because it is not simply trying to stop the water it is using mother nature itself (gravity) to help alleviate the water problem. It is important to note, that the discharge from the sump pump must be at an adequate distance from your home’s foundation so you are not constantly removing the same water over and over again.