Basements are one area where sumps and foundation drains are important.
A home's foundation is always vulnerable to excess water problems. The fact that the foundation rests on or in the ground, as is the case with basements, can lead to water buildup from rain runoff, improper grade levels, and sprinklers and water lines for gardens and flower beds. Sumps and foundation drains are the answers to these problems.
Where Is the Water Coming From?
A home's foundation, regardless of its type -- raised, slab or basement -- comes into contact with the ground by design. Building codes require contractors to include vapor barriers, drainage systems and soil grading to prevent water buildup around the foundation. However, even these steps won't always stop excess water from collecting around the foundation, especially if there is a high water table in your area or if the ground isn't sloped away from the house correctly. Leaking rain gutters and downspouts that don't release runoff far enough away from the foundation also cause water buildup. Water gets into basements in many ways, including around window wells, through cracks in the foundation walls and even from accumulated moisture due to condensation that seeps through the floor and walls.
How Foundation Drains Work
Foundation drains, sometimes referred to as footing drains, are actually a system of PVC pipes, gravel and a special fabric that filters water into the system. Foundation drains collect ground water on the fabric and in the gravel, which then seeps into the perforated PVC pipes that route the collected water away from the house to a sewer or storm water system. Pipes that connect to foundation drains are also installed in footings and window wells in basements before the foundation is poured.
Other Steps with Foundation Drains
The ability of foundation drains to work is augmented by techniques and materials that home builders either incorporate into their regular installation methods for a home's foundation or are requested by the buyer. These extra steps include using a waterproof paint or specialized matting -- known as dimple mat -- on foundation walls, damp-proof paint on footings and cement wedges where the walls join the footings to direct groundwater away from the foundation.
How Sumps Work
Sump pumps, otherwise known as sumps, are useful tools when water that collects around and under a foundation finds its way through the flooring. Sumps are especially useful for groundwater that seeps through basement floors. A pit -- about 4 foot square and 30 inches deep -- is typically dug into the floor, usually in an area where groundwater is most evident. Sump pumps consist of a small motor mounted on top of a pipe that goes into the pit, along with a float that rises with the groundwater to activate the motor switch. Sumps are connected at ground level to pipes that lead the collected water out through the foundation to the septic or sewer system for removal.
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