Interior drain tile and sump pumps
The workhorse fix for water at the floor joint: a drain along the footing, a sump pit and a pump that sends the water outside.
Most basement water in the Chippewa Valley enters at the cove, the joint where the wall meets the floor slab, when the soil around the house is saturated in spring. An interior drain tile system intercepts that water before it reaches the floor.
How is interior drain tile installed?
- Cut the floor. The slab is cut and removed in a strip along the inside of the problem walls.
- Dig the trench. A trench is dug down beside the footing, and the old soil is removed.
- Lay the drain. Perforated pipe goes into the trench in a bed of washed stone, sloped toward the sump.
- Drain the walls. On block walls, weep holes are often drilled in the bottom course, and a dimpled membrane is set against the wall so water runs down into the drain.
- Close it up. New concrete is poured over the trench, and the drain connects to a sealed sump pit.
What should a good sump setup include?
- A sealed, lidded pit, which keeps out debris and cuts down on humidity and odor
- A pump sized for how much water the house actually takes on
- A check valve so water in the pipe doesn't fall back into the pit
- A discharge line that carries water well away from the foundation, not into a floor drain or the sanitary sewer
- A backup: a battery backup pump, a second pump, or a high-water alarm
Why does my sump run all the time?
On low ground near the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, groundwater can sit high for weeks in a wet spring, and the sump may cycle constantly. That's what it's there for, but it also means a pump failure can flood the basement within hours. A backup pump and an alarm are worth asking about.
Where should the water go?
Sump water generally shouldn't go into the sanitary sewer, and many communities prohibit it. Ask the contractor, and your city or village, where your discharge is allowed to go. Avoid pointing it at a neighbor's yard or across a sidewalk where it will freeze.
The waterproofing company prices the job after walking the basement, looking at the outside grading and finding where the water actually gets in. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before a visit is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How do I know if my sump pump is about to fail?
Common warning signs are a pump that hums but doesn't move water, one that runs without shutting off when the pit is low, unusual noise or vibration, and a pump old enough that you don't remember installing it. Testing it each spring by filling the pit with a bucket of water is a simple check.
My discharge pipe freezes in winter. What can be done?
Contractors often run the discharge underground or in a larger pipe, add an air gap or freeze-relief fitting near the house, and make sure the line slopes so water doesn't sit in it.
Related services
More background: Eau Claire basement waterproofing guide.
Water on the basement floor, a damp wall or a sump that won't quit?
Call now and a local waterproofing company will help you find where the water is coming from.