How to Install Drain Tiles Around a Foundation

Excavator

Water infiltration issues can destroy a home's foundation and cause a multitude of moisture and mold problems. If water infiltration is an issue, an exterior drain tile installation will fix the problem as long as proper gutters and downspouts exist on the house. Drain tiles around foundations have small holes called perforations that allow water to seep into the drain tile and be carried to a sump pit that is inside the basement. From there the water can be pumped away from the house.

Things You'll Need

• Miniature excavator
• Spade shovel
• 3/4-inch clear gravel
• 6-inch perforated drain tile
• 6-inch connectors
• Concrete saw
• Sledge hammer
• Sump pit
• Utility knife
• Stone rake
• Bag of concrete
• 5 gallon bucket
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Dig down to the footings of your foundation with a mini excavator from an equipment or implement dealer or rental center. The trench around the house should be at least 3 feet from the foundation and taper back slightly toward the top to avoid soil collapse.

2. Using your spade shovel, clear away a trench next to your foundation footing about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Fill the trench with 3/4-inch clear gravel. Lay the 6-inch drain tile on the top of the gravel trench along the footing. Attach each end of the drain tile with a 6-inch T connector where you are going to connect into the sump pit in side the house.

3. Dig down under the footing with your spade shovel to where you are going to be attaching your sump pit. The hole needs to be wide enough to insert a piece of 6-inch drain tile.

4. 

   Guy cutting concrete

   Using the concrete saw, cut a square hole slightly larger than the diameter of the sump pit in the corner of the basement floor where the drain tile enters. Have a friend pour water across the blade while cutting to reduce dust. Hit the area you cut with a sledge hammer to break the concrete. Remove the concrete and dig down about 3 feet to allow the sump pit to slip into place. Make sure that you have located the entry drain tile hole from the exterior and that the hole has a downward pitch from the outside in.

5. Insert the sump pit in the hole and position one of the knock-outs toward the opening for the drain tile attachment. The sump pit should be slightly lower than the concrete. Cut out one of the knockouts with a utility knife. Push a piece of 6-inch drain tile through the hole from the outside and attach it to the sump pit by pushing it through the hole you knocked out. Then cut the drain tile with the utility knife and insert it into the 6-inch T fitting.

6. Back fill the trench around the house with 3/4-inch clear gravel, leaving the top 8 inches for regular soil. Use some of the old soil to fill over the stone and haul the rest away to the dump. Use the excavator bucket to level out the soil making sure that there is a slight pitch away from the house. Use a stone rake for fine grading and to get the rocks out of the soil.

7. 

   Concrete worker

   Mix concrete in a 5-gallon bucket with water until the consistency is like peanut butter. Spread the concrete in the corners around the sump pit. Use a trowel to smooth the concrete and blend it into the existing concrete.

Tips & Warnings

• Landscaping your yard after you have completed your project is up to you. Add gardens for extra interest, or simply apply grass seed. If you seed your lawn, make sure to apply straw to the surface to protect the seed from the sun's heat, and to keep the soil moist. Water twice a day for at least 4 weeks.

• If you have a stone foundation, you should not perform this project as the walls will likely collapse if dug out. Consult a professional excavator for advice with stone foundations and drain tile installation.

• Always call Digger's Hot-line before performing excavation work.

• When installing a drain tile system with a sump pit, a sump pump must be placed in the pit and piped to the exterior of the home.

• Do not operate machinery under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

References

• Cooperative Extension Service, University of South Dakota
• The Old House Web - Basement Wall Moisture Issues