Two Dry Basement Systems Explained

Many houses are plagued by flooded basements every year during rainy and snowy seasons. A few dry basement systems help prevent damage from moisture caused by sewer drains that may backup and overflow. Sometimes water can also collect on the outside of the house, near the foundation walls. Once the water saturates on the ground, adjacent to your house, it will build up pressure (called hydrostatic pressure) until it squeezes in through the foundation or the slab cracks. Ultimately, the more it rains or snows the more the basement is flooded.

What Is the Solution to Basement Flooding?

Usually the best solution is to regulate water flow from the roof, sidings and gutters. Ensure that this water is taken a distance away from the ground, adjacent to your house. After diverting the water flow, it is also important to seal and repair any cracks in the foundation walls and or slab.

However, even these are only preventive measures that may not work, especially if the rainfall and snow is intense and continuous. So what do you do if the water is still pooling in the basement? It may be time to install a dry basement system.

What Is a Dry Basement System?

Dry basement systems are defined as any installation that either water-proofs your basement floor or drains off the water that is finding its way in. The point of installing these systems is to ensure that your basement floor stays dry. Once the floor is waterproofed or adequately drained, your basement will remain dry throughout the year.

There are 2 types of dry basement systems: waterproofing and sump pump systems.

Waterproofing

This is the simplest and least expensive system you can install. All you have to do is to reinforce the foundation and floor with waterproof cement. However, just by waterproofing the foundation and the floor you cannot fully guarantee that your basement will forever be dry. The ideal way to go about it, will be to waterproof the basement and then find a way of draining the water that collects under the foundation and or slab.

Sump Pump System

The pump automatically expels any water that comes under the basement long before it can collect into pools. The system utilizes a fitted sump pump. Essentially, the system uses specialized rocks and tiles to fence the foundation and reinforce the floor so that any water collected is drained immediately to a basin that’s buried at a lower point, under the same basement floor. Once water fills the basin, the pump automatically turns on and discharges the water into a sewer via a hose.

A properly designed dry basement system, drains water to ensure that the water level above the basement floor and or slab, never reaches such levels as would allow hydrostatic pressure to build up. Again, this must then be complemented with repair work to seal off any cracks on the floor.

The net result of such a properly installed dry basement system is a dry basement that not only eliminates seepage of water but also prevents future flooding.