What Is Drain Tile?

As the stormy summer months approach, many homeowners begin to think of the potential for water damaged basements or flooded out yards. This can be a recurring annual concern, especially, if such problems have been experienced in the past. A sump pump system is a common method used to keep your basement dry.  Another solution for a homeowner to consider would be the installation of drain tile.

Drain tile is a modern, effective, way to directly address the water saturation in the soil surrounding your home by collecting and diverting excess water elsewhere. A tile drainage system is a plumbing system that installs below-ground pipes of perforated PVC to move water away from the structure of your home.  The type of system that is best for you depends on a correct evaluation of your individual problem. For instance, is it primarily your basement floor that is flooding? Does this happen only after a heavy rainfall or at even the slightest amount of rain? Maybe you’d simply like to stop the large pooling of water in your yard and over your driveway that seems to happen too frequently?

The main difference in placement of the drain tile is whether or not it is inside or outside of the home. Today, most homes have exterior drain tile, or footing drains, installed around the outside of the foundation during construction. However, in existing homes, usually an interior system of drain tile is installed above, within or under the concrete slab. It is possible to install an exterior drainage system for an existing home, but it is more costly since it requires digging around the home’s foundation. Your local plumbing professional can help you determine what type of drain tile installation would most effectively and economically address your specific needs.