Internal drainage system: features, benefits and price

• Why the water table rises around the foundation: the main reasons
• How to protect the basement and living space with internal waterproofing drainage
• The advantages of installing an interior drainage system: Why should you install one?
• The principle of operation of the internal drainage system
• How much does a drainage system cost?

The basement in the house should always be kept as dry as possible. To prevent groundwater from seeping into the foundation and to minimize the likelihood of detrimental effects on the property, you need to use an internal drainage installation to protect the house from water. Previously, only exterior drainage systems were used to solve this problem. Now the latest modern developments offer a more effective way to eliminate the damaging effects of water on the foundation of the house – the interior perimeter drainage system. With the help of this innovative solution, it is possible to protect your house from the negative impact of groundwater, prolonging the service life of the building.

Why the water table rises around the foundation: the main reasons

Suppose your foundation is always under constant hydrostatic external pressure as a result of the fact that groundwater is at a reasonably high level. In that case, it is worth taking care of the interiorr drainage system. Determining the need for this system is relatively easy – in areas where the floor and walls meet, water may appear, water seeps periodically from cracks in the floor, and the basement is constantly damp. Around the foundation can increase the water table due to the following reasons:

• lack of drainage around the perimeter of the foundation of the house, clogging of the system or a violation of its design;
• surface water is poorly drained;
• there is always plenty of water around the foundation walls due to poor roof drainage;
• sharp temperature fluctuations.

Determining the main reason why groundwater rises around the foundation is quite tricky. That is because the problem appears exactly on the outer wall of the building foundation or under the floor, which is not visible. It is impossible to conduct a meaningful, comprehensive inspection of this area.

How to protect the basement and living space with internal waterproofing drainage

Sharp fluctuations in temperature often accompany the change in weather seasons. Structures can be exposed to a variety of aggressive weather factors:

• rain;
• frost;
• drought;
• thaw.

The most vulnerable area of a house is its foundation. It is the one that is most damaged by water. If there is significant hydrostatic pressure from the outside, water can seep through the foundation – most often, moisture can be seen in the joints between the wall and the basement floor or in cracks. In this situation, it is worth worrying about the proper protection of the house. The best option would be an interior perimeter drainage system. 

The advantages of installing an interior drainage system: Why should you install one?

Interior water drainage system has many advantages compared to traditional methods of protecting the foundation from groundwater:

• Installation of the system makes it possible to avoid external works or demolition of part of the foundation walls. Everything remains intact – the landscape, the house’s plaster, and the pool on the site. Specialists won’t have to excavate to get to the surface of the basement walls.
• A drainage system can reduce moisture, which will protect the basement surface from mould.
• The drainage system has a rubber seal, which allows the moisture to drain away from the wall surface effectively.
• A vapour barrier can also be installed in conjunction with this system, which will significantly reduce moisture in the basement.
• During installation, the system is connected to the dewatering pumps. As a result, it is possible to quickly and efficiently remove water from the building.

These are only some of the favourable properties of the system. You can notice the effect of the drainage installation in just a few days when you get a completely dry basement with average humidity.

The principle of operation of the internal drainage system

Basement waterproofing with perimeter drainage installation is a modern, reliable and effective solution for almost any building. The system is installed inside the basement to a depth of about 1 foot and is close to the base of the building. The drainage system is installed exactly where groundwater is pushed into the basement by hydrostatic pressure. With a modern, effective system, it is possible to intercept the ejected water so that it does not have time to seep into the basement itself. The system directs the water under the concrete floor through perforated PVC pipes connected to a drainage pump. The latter is responsible for pumping the water to the sewage system for safe drainage.

In addition, installation of the system can be carried out at any time of the year. Also worth noting is the least invasive method of installation. For example, your landscaping remains completely intact. This property is often appreciated by homeowners because, in this way, you can save a lot of money on additional costs for excavation work and the arrangement of the site in the proper form.

This drainage works much better compared to traditional options. It has more compact dimensions, so the installation is much easier. The system turns out to be slightly higher, which creates the safest distance from the basement slab level to the water. Why does it work this way? It’s all about the fact that in this situation, the interior water drainage system operates at the groundwater level around the building and reduces the hydrostatic pressure. If the latter is too high, the water will come through joints or cracks in the basement. It is how water appears in the foundation.

How much does a drainage system cost?

Interior drainage system cost depends on a variety of factors. If we consider the average cost, the drainage system will generally cost $1,000 to $1,400. If you want to install an underground drainage system, it costs 150-350 dollars for one drainpipe. As for the interior system for the basement perimeter, it will cost a little more – its price ranges from 4000-12000 dollars.

The final cost is calculated individually for each object, based on the house’s parameters and clients’ wishes. The price depends on various parameters: the chosen type of drainage system, the house’s size, the work’s complexity and others. Consult the rates directly with the contractor.