The Symptoms of a Plugged Drain Tile

Paying attention to changes in your basement floors can save a lot of money on repairs.

Regular maintenance is an essential part of home ownership. While the roof and windows often need obvious repairs, less visible parts of the house, including drain tiles, also need care. Plugged drain tiles can cause tremendous damage to your home's foundation if left untreated. Knowing the symptoms of a plugged drain tile is the first step toward repair. Look for dampness, salt stains and basement leaks, then plan your course of repair.

The Role of Drain Tiles

Prior to the 1920s, many homes were built well above the local water shelf to prevent outside water pressure from putting too much stress on foundation walls. As home building techniques advanced, builders introduced drain tiles as a way to allow a certain amount of water to come through and be fed into a removal system, such as a sump pump or a Palmer valve. This approach helped to reduce water pressure on the foundation and create more freedom for building locations.

Symptoms of Plugged Drain Tiles

Items such as tree roots, branches, dislodged rocks and gravel and other debris have the potential to plug drain tiles. This prevents the drain tile from working properly and adds stress to foundation walls, which can lead to leaking. Symptoms of plugged drain tiles include roots in the sump crock, dampness on the walls and floor while the sump crock is dry, salt stains on basement and lower-level walls and visible water leaks near the basement floor. In general, any dampness in walls or on floors can be a symptom of plugged drain tiles. Investigate fully before the drains plug completely. Plugging leads to flooding, among other structural problems.

Drain Tile Testing

To determine if plugged drain tiles are the cause of your problem, perform a drain tile test, or hire a contractor to do the same. The test involves making several holes in the wall either by the location of the visible interior problem or near the corner of the affected wall. Exterior drain plug tests, also known as spud tests, can also be performed on the exterior of the home. This involves digging a hole about one foot above the drain tile. Contractors recommend at least two holes per wall. If water drains out, the tile is likely plugged, and you should make the repairs. If not, the problem may lie elsewhere.

Other Waterproofing Problems

Other elements work with drain tiles to help waterproof your home. If you have checked your drain tiles and they are not the problem, check your other waterproofing elements. Other elements include the dry asphalt layer applied to the exterior of foundation walls, the sump pump, sump pump liner and sump pump basin. Problems with any of these elements often yield symptoms nearly identical to those of a plugged drain tile.

References

• Open Hearth: Drain Tile
• How to Operate Your Home: How to Keep Your Basement Dry
• My Foundation Repairs: Waterproofing