Many homeowners wonder whether they need waterproofing solutions in their home, especially if their basement has never been flooded before. However, not installing them is not a good idea, especially if you live in an area such as St. Louis, MO where rainstorms and snow blizzards are nothing uncommon. Installing basement drains can seem like an expensive project, but the costs of foundation repair can be much higher.
If you are wondering whether you should invest in basement drains and which ones, stay tuned.
Dangers of Not Waterproofing a Basement
Of course, you can always decide not to waterproof your home and hope for the best, but this is often a recipe for disaster. Here are just some of the things that could happen to your home if you don’t install any waterproofing methods.
Property damage – When your basement becomes flooded, all of your furniture, documents, photographs, and whatever you have stored down there will be ruined.
Structural damage – Without proper waterproofing solutions in place your basement could suffer from repeated flooding and constant moisture presence. These will cause your wooden floorboards to rot and warp, thus compromising the structural stability of the house. These repairs are very expensive, so it is much better to prevent them in the first place.
Humidity and mold – Water damage or even increased moisture levels can cause mold growth. Mold presence in your home can be a problem since airborne mold spores can contaminate the air you breathe and make you sick. They especially lead to respiratory problems. On the other hand, high humidity levels will cause your energy bills to rise. This is no surprise since humid air is harder to condition.
It is rather clear how waterproofing measures can keep your home in good shape, prevent dangerous situations, and improve your quality of life. If you wish to avoid having standing water in your basement, installing basement drains is your best option. However, there are several types of basement drains, so how can you know which one to pick? In this post, we will take a closer look at all types of basement drains and their pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision.
Exterior Drain Tile
Some homeowners like to purchase turnkey homes, while others wish to build their homes from the ground up so they can design every aspect. If you have decided to build your house, it’s best to consider installing the exterior drain while your basement is still under construction. The drain is installed at the bottom of your foundation wall, and its purpose is to collect excess water from the soil. Since this is a perforated and flexible pipe, it will be able to collect water with ease. After the water gets into the pipe, it is directed toward the sump pit, from where it leaves your property.
However, this drain type is difficult to maintain since it clogs very often. In addition, if your home is already built, installing the exterior drainage will include a lot of excavation, which is not only expensive but will also ruin your landscaping and maybe even your pavement or your patio.
Interior French Drains
Both interior and exterior drainage systems rely on a series of pipes to collect water and direct it to the sump pit where your sump pump will pump it out of your home. These systems do not require any power, which makes them appealing especially in the case of a power outage. However, while the exterior drainage system tends to clog very often, the interior one features an anti-clog design. It is installed inside your home and along the perimeter of your basement. It is placed below floor level so you almost won’t be able to see it once it is in place, but it sits on top of the footing and out of the mud. In addition, a large 3/8″ wall flange ensures that the system will not clog with floor debris. This system will easily collect water from the leaking walls and channel it toward the sump pump.
As you might know, those drains that are placed outside of the home tend to freeze during the winter months. This can be a huge problem since when a discharge line is frozen with ice, the water is forced to back up into your basement and burn out your pump. However, our interior drainage system features a special grated opening outside your home that allows water to exit the pipes if it gets frozen. On the other hand, if the drains are not frozen, water won’t escape them in any way.
Floor Drains
Floors drains are usually installed during the construction and are most often placed in utility areas. Their job is to remove the water from the basement. So, how does water enter them? The floor is slightly slanted toward the drain, so that water that gets into the basement is directed into the drain. This is also the reason why it is difficult to install this type of drain when your home has already been built. Even if your contractor places a drain somewhere in your basement, water won’t flow towards it since your basement floors are level. Therefore, you will have a lot of standing water around your drain.
If you want to learn more about our interior drainage system or you wish to know about our other waterproofing solutions, don’t hesitate to contact professionals at Foundation Recovery Systems and schedule a free inspection and quote.
