how do i install weeping tile for drainage

Exterior Weeping Tile

1. First, a trench is dug. This trench is supposed to be 12” in width, and surrounding your home’s outside perimeter. ...
2. After the trench is dug, about two to three inches of gravel are applied to the trench’s base. ...
3. Then, the pipe is laid on top of the poured gravel. ...
4. Finally, the trench is filled with gravel or a sand-gravel combination. ...

Full Answer

How do you install Weeping Tile in a basement?

Fitting an internal weeping tile entails digging a channel across the circumference of the basement floor. We then add a drainage membrane, like a delta membrane, to the plain foundation wall to channel water beneath the underground slab onto the weeping tile. Weeping tiles collect water pooling at the footing level.

What is an exterior weeping tile drain?

a) Exterior weeping tile or French drains manage water at ground level before it can get into your basement. The system consists of a trench that is sloped away from the house, gravel and pipe. Surface water soaks into the ground, filtered through the gravel, through the holes in the pipe and channeled away from the house.

How do you use a weeping tile system to divert water?

It is possible to use a weeping tile system here as well to divert water away from the foundation. Remove the window well form. Excavate the dirt from the well area. Dig down to the horizontal weeping tile system. Use a utility knife to cut the pipe in half and insert a 4-inch T-connection directly below the window.

How is weeping tile laid on top of gravel?

A gravel-filled trench is cut on a slight slope. Weeping tile is installed then a layer of gravel and coarse sand is placed on top. As water filters through the sand, it drains into the pipe and away from the area.

How do you install a weeping tile?

To do this, weeping tiles use small slits or weep holes. The holes are located on one side of each pipe. A trench is dug around the outside limits of your home, which is where the weeping tiles are placed, hole-side up. Alternatively, weeping tiles are installed into your basement floor (more on this later).

How does weeping tile drain?

Weeping tiles are porous 4-inch pipes used to discharge underground water by providing a drainage point that drains water accumulated at the base of your homes foundation. The water is then ejected into the storm sewer beneath your street or into a Sump Pump liner installed under your basement floor.

Do it yourself weeping tile?

0:203:50DIY Weeping Tile From Solid Pipe-Corrugated Pipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I will just push the utility knife into one of the portions of the pipe just like this push itMoreAnd I will just push the utility knife into one of the portions of the pipe just like this push it in and then twist it and that creates a little hole in the pipe. And I will turn the pipe.

What do you put under drain tile?

Set The Pipes Then cover it with gravel. Then attach the pipe to the tank where directed. After this, all you need to do is add gravel where you don't want the pipe to move and fill the rest in with dirt. For French drains, the top layer is filled with gravel.

How deep do you put weeping tile?

If you are trying to manage problems with surface water, then you have a little more play with the depth; in general, the recommendation is about eighteen inches to two feet.

Where should weeping tile be placed?

They can be installed on along the perimeter of the foundation walls, from either the inside or the outside. These types of weeping tile are much more likely to clog with mud and debris. And if it's been installed along the outside of the home, it will not be accessible without excavating the foundation.

Is a French drain the same as weeping tile?

A French drain (also called a weeping tile, drain tile, perimeter drain or sub-surface drain) is a common basement waterproofing solution. It's a trench containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from the foundation.

How long do weeping tiles last?

What is the life expectancy? Perimeter drains or weeping tiles can last for decades. If properly installed, you can expect to have a problem free basement for a very long time. Older clay weeping tiles tended to deteriorate, and become clogged with soil and tree roots, but even these systems lasted for many years.

How deep does drain tile need to be buried?

Step one: Digging the trench The trench should be around 12” wide and 8-24” deep.

How much does it cost to put in drain tile?

To install an outdoor drain tile at the new build phase, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 and $80 per foot. The larger the drain diameter, the higher the cost. A good average to work with for budgeting is $70 per foot.

How does exterior drain tile work?

Exterior drain tile drains that water away from the soil surrounding the foundation so that it never permeates the wall. Masonry Foundation – If your home sits on a foundation made of concrete block, brick, stone or other masonry, exterior drain tile can prevent major problems.

How do you drain water away from a house foundation?

Gutters and downspouts are excellent methods for moving water away from a home foundation. Rainfall on the roof naturally drips directly next to the foundation, creating various issues like hydrostatic pressure, differential settling and erosion.

How do you tell if your weeping tile is clogged?

How to Tell If Your Weeping Tile is MalfunctioningChecking for cracks in your basement walls.Looking for damp areas/pooling around your home and under your basement windows.Checking for musty odors coming from your basement (mold/mildew)Looking for stained or peeling paint and drywall.

How do you fix a clogged weeping tile?

Clean your weeping tileFill the basin and weeping tile with water and liquid soap. Do not allow it to overflow.Leave the soapy water for 30 mins to neutralize the odor.Pull the plunger out to allow the water to drain.Repeat several times and then rinse with clean water.

What is the purpose of a weeping tile?

Weeping tile: the name makes it sound like a super emo building material. But it's really a drainage system that plays a crucial role in keeping water out of a home's basement. A weeping tile is a porous drainage pipe surrounding the exterior of a home's foundation. It's buried in a trench filled with gravel and soil.

How does interior weeping tile work?

An interior weeping tile system allows water, which has pooled in a concrete block / cinder block foundation, to drain, thus preventing water from leaking or seeping from the concrete blocks onto, or beneath, the basement floor.

Things You Will Need

Observe your property during and after a heavy rainstorm. Designate the places where water collects either as stagnant pools or running stream-like pathways. Pound in wooden stakes at the epicenter of these areas, which is the best place to install weeping tiles in gravel-filled pits to drain away excess water.

The Drip Cap

If part of your property seems to take forever to dry out after a heavy rainstorm, or if a walkway floods every time it rains, you may be able to solve these problems by installing French drains fitted with perforated weeping tiles.

How to cover weeping tile?

Covering the pipe and filling the trench with gravel or a combination of sand and gravel will allow easy access. Adding gravel, then dirt with sod will conceal the weeping tile completely and provide a base for landscaping.

How much does it cost to install weeping tile?

Unfortunately, that also means it can be costly. An exterior, full-perimeter job can run between $8,000 and $15,000 with sump pump and accessories. Luckily, a four-wall project is not always needed and can reduce the cost significantly. Interior weeping tile can be installed for half the price of exterior and will eliminate the need for removing landscaping or other obstructions. The good news is that once the work is complete, you can enjoy a dry, trouble-free basement for years.

How to get rid of weeping smell in shower?

Completely fill the catch basin and weeping tile with water and liquid soap. Be careful not to allow the water to overflow. Leave the soapy water there for 30 minutes to neutralize the odor. Pull the plunger out to allow the water to drain. Repeat several times and then rinse with clean water to remove soap residue.

How do weeping tiles work?

The concept for how weeping tiles work is actually quite simple. The plastic pipes are placed, holes side up, into a trench around the outside perimeter of the home or inside under the basement floor. As ground water rises, it flows through the holes into the pipe. It then follows the pipe’s incline to discharge away from the house or to a sump pump where it is pumped away.

What is the best pipe for a garden?

Rigid PVC pipe with pre-drilled holes is the most popular for its durability and easy maintenance. Covering the stone or wrapping the pipe with landscape fabric will keep it root- and obstruction-free. Leaving a clean-out joint that remains above ground will help in future maintenance.

What is a weeping tile?

1. WHAT ARE WEEPING TILES. Weeping tiles are porous 4-inch pipes used to discharge underground water. They were originally named at a time when terracotta tiles were used for drain pipes. Today’s products are plastic pipes with weep holes or small slits designed to redirect water away from the home.

How wide is a trench?

A 12-inch wide trench must be dug around the outside perimeter of your home. It should slope one inch for every eight feet and extend down to the footings. You’ll need to relocate plants and shrubs in the dig area and also determine where any excavated soil should be placed. As the tile and gravel take up a good portion of the trench, you’ll have a significant amount remaining after the job. Talk to your contractor about how to dispose of excess soil.

Where does weeping tile go in a storm sewer?

This is a close-up view of how the weeping tile, via a leader line, connects to the storm sewer beneath the street in front of the house. In some instances the weeping tile is directed into the home to discharge into a sump pump liner from which water is pumped to the stormsewer beneath your street.

When did weeping tile come out?

This type of weeping tile was in widespread use throughout the GTA from the 1930’s until the mid to late 1970’s.

Why is my basement weeping?

As this leads many to believe that a wet basement is a sympton of clogged weeping tile, it is assumed that the the installation of new weeping tile will prevent future basement leaks and transform what was a wet basement into a dry one.

What is the color of weeping tile?

It should be noted that the colour of the actual weeping tile is black (see one of the weeping tile images below); it is the filter fabric wrapping that is white. This fabric filters the water entering the weeping tile so that a minimal amount of sediment will enter the weeping tile.

How does water penetrate a foundation?

Water that is able to penetrate a foundation wall must be passing through a crack or a hole of some kind. For water to penetrate a foundation wall there must be some water pressure on the foundation wall (referred to as hydrostatic pressure).

Does weeping tile affect drainage?

It is not possible to establish the extent to which the drainage around the footing of the home was affected.

Can water enter weeping tile?

Therefore, if there is an obstruction in one location, or several for that matter, water is able to enter the weeping tile elsewhere and drain away to the designated drainage point.

How does weeping tile work?

The system drains water at the footing of the foundation in much the same way as exterior weeping tile does. An interior weeping tile system allows water, which has pooled in a concrete block / cinder block foundation, to drain behind a membrane on the wall; thus eliminating the risk of water seepage onto the basement floor.

What is an interior weeping tile system?

An interior weeping tile system, also referred to as an internal perimeter drain system, is a method of waterproofing foundation walls from the inside as an alternative to foundation excavation and waterproofing. Interior perimeter drain systems are mostly installed to waterproof leaking concrete block foundations.

How does a perimeter drainage system work?

A perimeter drainage system keeps a basement dry by providing drainage for the water that pools within the block foundation walls that subsequently seeps onto the basement floor. This system is also very effective for dealing with a high water table under the basement floor slab, and for any water that leaks through foundation cracks. The interior weeping tile system is a basement waterproofing system that will keep your basement perfectly dry, and is similar to the weeping tile system installed on the exterior, at the base of your foundation.

What is weeping tile?

The interior weeping tile system is a basement waterproofing system that will keep your basement perfectly dry, and is similar to the weeping tile system installed on the exterior, at the base of your foundation. This basement waterproofing system involves the installation of a drainage system against some or all of the exterior walls ...

Where are sump pumps installed?

5. In the absence of a suitable sump pump liner, a sump liner and submersible sump pump are installed beneath the floor;

Can you conceal a discharge pipe in a basement?

Note: Instead of having an unsightly discharge pipe emerging from the centre of the sump liner, it is possible to conceal the discharge pipe within your framed basement walls by modifying the configuration of the discharge so that it is “discrete” (beneath the concrete floor and travelling up the wall behind the drywall).

Is weeping tile waterproofing?

Compared to exterior waterproofing, an interior weeping tile system is less expensive (since no excavation is involved) and is a proven, highly effective basement waterproofing method. This waterproofing system is so reliable that some very large companies sell this type of system to deal with just about every wet basement situation.

Where are weeping tiles installed?

Alternatively, weeping tiles are installed into your basement floor (more on this later). As the water under the home’s foundations rises, it pours into the pipes through the weep holes.

How does water go through a weeping hole?

As the water under the home’s foundations rises, it pours into the pipes through the weep holes. The water flows through the pipe and is discharged through the end of the pipe. When it comes to the basement weeping tiles, the discharged water goes to a sump pump.

What is a French drain?

French drains are exterior weeping tiles. These are made to deal with drainage on the ground level. In other words, French drains manage drainage before it enters your home. This is the tile type that’s installed into trenches dug around your home’s outside perimeter. Interior weeping tiles are the second layer of protection against drainage issues.

What happens when a French drain fails?

When and if the French drains fail, this system directs the water to a sump pump. The pump sends the water through the piping, to the storm sewer outside. French drains require more work during installation, while the interior tiles are installed like sump pumps – 12”x12” trench is dug around the basement’s perimeter.

How wide is a trench for a home?

In any case, here are the basics, so you can understand the process. First, a trench is dug. This trench is supposed to be 12” in width, and surrounding your home’s outside perimeter. For every eight feet, the trench needs to slope one inch.

Do weeping drains require more work?

Before we move on, you need to understand that the weeping tile installation process is extremely complex. Although French drains require more work, interior weeping tiles aren’t exactly a breeze, either. We recommend referring to a professional before starting the installation process on your own.

Do weeping tiles help with drainage?

However, taking a step towards avoiding drainage issues altogether is crucial. Weeping tiles help prevent drainage issues at their inception, which makes them an excellent solution for all homes. In this post, you’re going to learn more about the basics of weeping tile installation. In addition, we’re going to talk about the difference between these and French drains.

How much does it cost to install a drain tile?

Having a professional landscaper install a surface Drain Tile could cost you 10 – 30 US dollars/foot. But depending on the drain’s width and depth, it may average to about $25/foot.

How does Drain Tile work?

In the world of construction, the term refers to a type of drainage pipe. It is mostly laid near a building’s footing and beneath the ground level.

What type of pipe is used for drain tile?

There are two types of Drain Tile pipes mainly used by installation companies. This includes a PVC and a flexible corrugated pipe.

What to do if you get a corrugated pipe?

Also, if you get a corrugated pipe for your Drain Tile system, consider buying a covering sleeve. This will help hinder blockages on the pipe’s holes when silt or sand water runs atop it.

Why do we use drain tile?

Drain Tile offers an easy path for water to follow. This is because water will always choose the path with the least resistance to stream through.

How much drop for a 20 foot drain?

Note that Drain Tile requires at least a 1% drop. Thus, a 1-foot drop works well per 100 feet, and a 2-inch drop for a 20 feet drain. You will have to calculate the drop according to your measurements.

When was drain tile invented?

The first version of Drain Tile was first founded in the fields of agriculture some 2000 years ago . And despite that, it was only until 1838 that it was first used on American soil. This was by the hand of an early farmer called John Johnston in Seneca County, New York.

What is a Weeping Tile?

Weeping tiles are 4” hollow porous pipes employed in discharging water from the ground. Whenever the pipe drains, it releases liquids into the sump pump liner installed beneath your basement surface. A weeping tile system is a significant advancement towards making your basement water-resistance.

Installing a Weeping Tile

Fitting an internal weeping tile entails digging a channel across the circumference of the basement floor. We then add a drainage membrane, like a delta membrane, to the plain foundation wall to channel water beneath the underground slab onto the weeping tile.

How Weeping Tiles Work

Weeping tiles collect water pooling at the footing level. It pushes the water into the cesspool pump until it builds sufficient energy to get into the house.

Steps and Details of Installing an Exterior Weeping Tile

It requires a channel 12- inch wide dug surrounding the outside circumference of the home. The trench must slope one inch for every eight feet.

Weeping Tile and Backyard Runoff

When there’s a lot of water pooling in the backyard long after a storm, it is a red flag. However, the French drain system is a perfect solution. It uses the same principle as when removing basement flooding.

Window Well and Weeping Tile

In case your window well floods, the weeping tile system can redirect the flood. The process involves;

Maintaining the Weeping Tile

Stamping out leaves and rubbish from the window wells together with the gutters.

Where is drainage tile placed?

Drain tile is placed deep in the ground alongside the foundation footing. Because these systems are usually deeply buried and cannot be easily modified or corrected, it's vitally important that they are installed correctly. Foundation drainage systems which are installed properly can serve a dual role.

Why does my drain tile come to the surface?

This happens naturally because the drain tile pipe is installed nearly level and as the ground falls away from the house at some point the pipe will be visible.

How Does Water Move Through Soil?

The water in the soil is moving all the time. In almost all cases, it moves down a few inches then it begins to move sideways. Gravity is pulling it to the oceans around the world.

What is foundation drain tile?

Foundation drain tile systems are the means by which groundwater can be transported away from your basement. If you want a dry basement, you must have fantastic drain tile and waterproofing on the outside of the foundation. CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local foundation drainage experts.

How deep is the soil in a house?

It falls into the soil and starts to go down, but then sideways. The bedrock under the soil generally, but not always, follows the shape of the soil above it. Soil depths can vary from several feet to tens-of-feet thick . ©2017 Tim Carter

Does a drain tile pit work?

The drain tile pipe runs to this pit and the water fills this pit. These pits work well only in places that have very open gravel soils. Not many places have this soil. In most places , the soil is dense clay and the dry well fills with water and the water then backs up against your foundation.

Is foundation drain tile wrong?

Foundation drain tile is installed wrong by most builders. They don't understand how water moves through the soil.