Wet Basement Repairs

Basement Drainage Services

Basement floor drains need to be filled regularly to prevent the trap from drying out and sewer gas from escaping into the basement.

The drain trap can be topped up automatically by the condensation from air conditioners or high-efficiency furnaces. A small tube from another down pipe is sometimes used to keep the trap from drying out.

Some advocate the use of special radon gas traps. In areas where storm and sanitary sewers are combined, and there is the risk of sewage backing up, backflow prevention devices in all basement drains may be mandated by code and definitely are recommended even if not mandated.

The main water cut-off valve is usually in the basement. Basements often have “clean outs” for the sanitary and storm sewers, where these pipes can be accessed. The storm sewer access is only needed where the weeping tiles drain into the storm sewers.

Other than with walk-out or look-out basements, windows in basements require a well and are below grade. Clear window well covers may be required to keep the window wells from accumulating rain water.

There should be drains in the window well, connected to the foundation drains.

Water can seep in to a basement from elevated places nearby, such as a raised driveway. Solutions include: re-mortaring bricks; silicone in cracks; elevating areas next to exterior walls; sloping gutters so water flows away from house. If the water table outside the basement is above the height of the basement floor, then the foundation drains or the weeping tiles outside the footings may be insufficient to keep the basement dry. A sump pump may be required. It can be located anywhere and is simply in a well that is deeper than the basement floor.

Quality builders and concerned home owners use – Drain Master Plumbers on all their projects to ensure their
home have dry basements and crawl spaces!