Common Causes for Poor Drainage in Basement

by Adam Silver AKA Thanos

Poor Drainage in Basement

Poor Drainage in Basement

The basement drainage system is key to keeping water out of the basement. A floor drain system is typically installed at the time of construction. The floor drain lies below the basement floor, allowing for a permanent fixture that will keep water fromleaking into the house.There are two main types of drainage system options: surface drains and french drains. Here Foundation drains are pipes that are installed under your foundation or basement floor to collect water and move it off-site to prevent your basement from filling with water. Basement waterproofing is a valuable home repair. As with many home repairs, your basement waterproofing varies greatly by region, size of the home, and the extent of the waterproofing. However

The Types of Drainage Systems

  • Surface Drainage System.
  • Subsurface Drainage System.
  • Slope Drainage System.
  • Downspouts and Gutter Systems.

There are several different kinds of drainage systems for basements that involve different placement and installation processes.

  • Exterior Drain Tiles.
  • Interior French Drains.
  • Floor Drains.
  • Sump Pumps.
  • Submersible Sump Pumps.
  • Pedestal Sump Pumps

A poor drainage system is Poorly drained stormwater forms stagnant pools that provide breeding sites for disease vectors. Poor drainage can lead to flooding, resulting in property loss, and people may even be forced to move to escape floodwaters.

In the natural sciences, it has been accepted for a long time that certain basic drainage patterns such as the dendritic, trellis, radial, parallel, annular, and rectangular are associated with specific land surface materials. Air photo interpretation has revealed several modifications of the basic drainage patterns.The Side-Effects of Poor Drainage Systems Without a good drainage system, you risk causing water damage to your property. Did you know that as much as 85% of home repair expenses in the United States come from water damage? Poor drainage systems, misguided landscape irrigation,

and uncontrollable runoff are typically to blame for such water damage. Foundations, sidewalks, and driveways are at risk of being damaged, which can result in expensive repair work on your property. Fortunately, all of these problems caused by uncontrolled water can be easily fixed with a better drainage system.

Many homeowners overlook the kind of damage that uncontrolled water can present, but it can become a very real issue. Without a good drainage system, you risk the following:

Foundation and Structural Damage
  • Damage to concrete and asphalt
  • Foundation and structural damage
  • Overflowing gutters
  • Basement water stains
  • Building material deterioration
  • Erosion
  • Insect and rodent infestations–spiders, reptiles, etc.
  • Mold growth and wood rot
  • A Better Drainage System- Not every drainage solution applies to every situation. an experienced drainage system professional can help you determine the best solution for you.

    French Drain – This type of drainage system is commonly used in residential applications and involves a series of trenches that hold perforated pipes filled with gravel. Water seeps into the ground through the gravel and is diverted away from your home.

    Dry Well – Instead of diverting water to a sewer, with dry well water is diverted into an underground well where it can be dispersed back into the soil.This is a very environmentally friendly drainage solution, as it conserves water by returning it directly to the ground.

    Corrugated Tubes – Above-ground or buried tubes can be used in conjunction with downspouts to direct water away from your building instead of letting it pool into a low area. This can also be used to direct water to a landscaped area where frequent watering is necessary.

    Correcting Lawn Grades – Land needs to slope directly into nearby drains in order to ensure proper drainage. If your lawn mowing is uneven and water accumulates in low areas, you may need to correct your lawn grade. Common Causes of Basement Moisture And How To Fix Them

    An Interior Water Leak- This may seem like a no-brainer, but you should always check for inside leaks first when trying to identify the cause of moisture in your basement. A water leak can come from numerous places: a shower, a sink, a toilet, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a bad pipe, just to name a few. Sometimes, if the moisture in your basement is located on the ceiling or walls beneath a bathroom or kitchen, an interior water leak is to blame. Find where the moisture is located and determine if something in that area is leaking.

  • Ineffective Grading in Basement
  • Ineffective Grading- Rain or groundwater often makes its way into basements due to poor grading.
    The ground around your foundation should slope away from the house, not towards it. If draining in the wrong direction, water will accumulate against your foundation and eventually make its way inside. This often happens when fill dirt around your foundation isn’t properly compacted. As the dirt settles, the slope changes and water flows toward your house rather than away from it.
  • Missing or Defective Gutters and Downspouts- The purpose of gutters and downspouts is to direct rainwater away from the foundation of your home. If those gutters and downspouts are missing, or not functioning properly, rainwater is often directed towards your foundation. As water drains toward your house, it can accumulate in the soil around it. If water accumulates around your foundation, chances are, it will make its way inside into your basement.
  • Cracks in Your Foundation- If you have cracks in your foundation, you can be sure that water will find them and make its way into your basement. In fact, sometimes the water is even the cause of the cracks themselves. If floor joists are not properly connected to the foundation walls, it can allow the walls to move, and in turn, cracks are formed. Water can actually cause cracks in the foundation as well due to poor drainage in the soil. If water is not directed away from your foundation and accumulates against the walls, and that pressure (hydrostatic pressure) can force the water into the walls, creating cracks. No matter how the cracks formed, if they exist, water can
    enter your basement through them.
  • Poor (or Missing) Drain Tile and Sump Pit- Many houses do not have a subsurface drainage system. Basements in older

Rely on Us for Poor Drainage Service

If you see signs of moisture in your basement, do not wait to do something about it. The longer the problem persists, the bigger & more costly the repair will be. All services that our contractors provide are- Basement WaterproofingHVACRestorationHome Security & Automation, etc. For more tips or help call us at 123-456-7890 or contact us online.