Lots of older home repairs or renovations, especially in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, are going to include the replacement or repair of the drain tile system.
This system is designed to collect and redirect water seepage away from the house. Depending on the location and age of your home or building, drain tiles can be installed either on on the interior perimeter of the foundation or along the exterior as a house is being built. If the drain tiles become blocked or clogged, your crawl space or basement can incur water damage or even flood.
The problem living in an area that was once a rain forest is that there is a lot of rain, which affects our buildings and their durability. Over time, nature finds a way to take over and clog drain tile systems. Trees and their roots grow into (or create) cracks, soil and other organic material becomes more compact so the slope lessens, becomes flat, or even eventually causes a negative slope, which is a huge problem if left unchecked. These areas of neutral or reverse slope can fill with mud and debris, clogging the system and creating backflow and flooding.
Whether you are doing renovations or repairs, or you notice leaks in the basement, it is a good idea to start with the drain tile system.
If you have a clogged or failing drain tile system, there are a few things to be aware of, and you have a few options moving forward.
At first, you may be convinced that all you need is some high pressure water to blast out the drain tile system. This might sound like the most affordable option, but it rarely solves the actual problem, especially if there is a section of collapsed pipe or a section with a negative slope. You may see an improvement in the short term, which can take some of the pressure off while you prepare to do a more major fix.
The next best thing to do is repair the section that is clogged, collapsed or broken. You will likely need to hire professionals for this, who can come in and send a camera through the system to properly diagnose the flooding and standing water issues.
Providing there are only a couple of trouble spots, this might be all you need to move forward. However, you might not know the extent of the problem until you start fixing one section at a time.
If there is a suspicion that there are multiple trouble spots, an overhaul might be in order. While this might seem like a big deal in the moment, a new drainage system or full drain system replacement will use new, modern materials that are highly durable. Again, depending on the age of your home and the diagnostics from the drainage repair company, this might be the most cost effective in the long run.
In Vancouver, keeping water and moisture away from our homes is a constant battle, but improvements in techniques and materials is making a difference. The important thing is to be proactive. If you notice a leak in your basement, and you suspect it is from your drain tile system, call us right away. Better to start fixing the problem now, rather than letting it grow into a disaster. Get a Drain Cleaning or Repair Quote today.
