A sump pump is a device used to remove excess accumulated water from a home’s sump basin. Usually installed in a specially constructed pit or sump basin below the basement floor level, a sump pump is activated, either automatically or manually, when water enters the basin.
Spring can indeed be a time when basements experience flooding and sump basins have water in them. While some water is normal to appear in a sump basin, excessive water or flooding is a problem that may be caused by a poor drainage system.
Homes with inadequate or poorly maintained drainage systems, such as clogged gutters, malfunctioning downspouts, or improper grading around the foundation, are susceptible to water buildup and basement flooding at any time of the year including Spring.
To reduce the risk of basement flooding, homeowners can take several preventative measures:
Clean gutters every fall. Gutters that are full of leaves and debris cannot collect and divert water properly.
Ensure proper grading around the foundation to direct water away from the home. This may include corrective grading and the addition of drain tile outside of the home.
Install drain tile. Sometimes it is necessary to add drain tile inside a home to solve water intrusion issues. Drain tile can be repaired or installed new inside an already finished basement with minimal disruption to a home. At Concrete Foundation Solutions, we follow the process below.
- Dig. The first step in installing or repairing interior drain tile is to remove approximately 12″ of the concrete floor to create and access the base of the foundation footings.
- Lay Drain Tile. Next, we install heavy, rigid PVC drain tubing in the exposed trench. A layer 3/4″ in depth of washed rock is also placed in the trench to function as a sediment filtration system. This creates a better way to drain water.
- Direct Water Away. Holes are drilled in the block wall voids to help water evacuation. Vent-Mat edging is installed to direct the problem water into the prepared drainage trench. A drain tube will channel water to a heavy walled PVC basin containing the sump pump. The evacuation pipe from the sump pump is then installed per building code in your area.
- Lay Cover. Heavy vinyl sheeting is placed over the drainage rock trench to form a final moisture barrier.
- Replace the Concrete Flooring. The last step in this process is to replace the concrete flooring where the tile has been installed.
If your home is experiencing water intrusion problems, we can help. Concrete Foundation Solutions is a locally owned expert in stopping the headaches of water entering your home. Contact us today for your free inspection.