Installing Basement Drainage Channels

Moisture in the basement not only causes mold and mildew to accumulate, but can damage the structure of the home.  Installing basement drainage channels is best done when building the home.  However, many older homes were built under older building codes, and did not have the equipment to deal with moisture we have today.  The first issue is to eliminate the source of the water.

• Materials:
  
  
  
  
  • Sump pump
  
  
  • Sump pump float and assembly
  
  
  • 10-foot sections of four inch diameter PVC.
  
  
  • Cement
  
  
  • Jack hammer
  
  
  • Electrical wiring
  
  
  • Drywall knife
  
  
  • PVC glue
  
  
  • Chain wrench
  
  
  • Four inch elbows
  
  
  • Extension cord
  
  
  
  


• Interior drainage system.
  
  
  
  
  • Focuses on the floor and wall joints diverting water outside utilizing a sump pump.
  
  
  • Hire a contractor to assist with planning and installing of the drainage system.
  
  
  • Diagram the layout of the basement in relation to the house, and yard.  Determine the best location for the sump pump and wall for outside drainage canal.
  
  
  • Find the lowest point on the floor where water seems to collect.  That will be your drain.
  
  
  • Drill a hole in the wall the diameter of the pipe for the drainage canal.
  
  
  • Make a sump pit hole in the floor 20 inches wide and 24 inches deep enough for the sump pump and container. 
  
  
  • Make trench from the sump pump pit leading to the appropriate outside wall.
  
  
  • Wire electricity dedicated to the sump pump.  Insulate the electrical wiring so it will not be affected by wet conditions.  Put the sump pump on it's own circuit so it will not drain circuits of the home.
  
  
  • Sump pumps are made of several materials.  Cast iron is the best.  A 1/2 horsepower sump pump will clear 3,000-7,000 gallons of water per hour.  Verify with the seller the drainage efficiency.
  
  
  • Place an 18-inch diameter by 22 inch deep bucket or container into the hole for the sump pump.  Make sure the float and assembly are working properly.
  
  
  • Install the sump pump into the hole in the floor.
  
  
  • Lay the pipe from the sump to the exit wall.
  
  
  • Dig a trench leading away from the house to the center of the yard.
  
  
  • Extend the piping to the center of the yard. 
  
  
  • You may want to add extensions to different areas and install leech lines for even water distribution.
  
  
  • Cover the trench in the house with cement, smooth it over even with the rest of the floor.
  
  
  • Seal the hole in the wall with cement, caulk and baseboard.
  
  
  • Fill the trench in the yard even with the rest of the ground.