Interior drain tile is a buried channel just inside the foundation walls. The crew breaks out a strip of concrete along the perimeter, digs a shallow trench beside the footing, sets perforated pipe in washed stone, and slopes it to a sump pit. Water that comes through the wall, or up through the joint between wall and floor, drops into the pipe instead of crossing the floor. The trench is then filled with new concrete.
When is interior drain tile the right call?
It's the usual fix when water appears along the floor edge on more than one wall, especially in spring, or when the walls are fieldstone or old block that can't be sealed from the inside. It handles the water after it reaches the foundation rather than keeping it off, but it doesn't require digging up porches, driveways or the narrow side yards common between houses in Utica's older neighborhoods. On a tight city lot, that's often the deciding factor.
What happens during the job?
- Finding the water. The company looks for where seepage starts and checks the walls for cracks, loose mortar and any inward bowing.
- Clearing the edges. Shelving, workbenches and anything stored along the walls has to move, and finished walls may need to come down at the bottom.
- Trench and pipe. Pipe and stone go in, and many systems add a plastic flange or dimpled membrane on the wall so seepage runs down into the drain.
- Pit and pump. Water gathers in a lined pit and is pumped out through a discharge line.
- Patching. New concrete closes the trench and the floor is usable again.
What should I ask before signing?
- Which walls get drain tile, and why those walls?
- How will the pipe stay clear of the fine silt common in valley soils?
- Are there cleanouts so the line can be flushed later?
- Where will the pump discharge, and is that allowed where you live?
- Does the job need a permit, and who will apply for it?
- What does the warranty cover, and does it pass to a buyer?
What drives the price?
- How many feet of wall need drain tile
- Floor thickness, access and how much has to be moved
- Finished walls or flooring that must be removed and replaced
- Pump choice, battery backup and discharge line length
Pricing comes only from the waterproofing company, after someone has been down in the basement, looked at the walls, floor joint and sump, and walked the outside of the house to see where roof and yard water goes. We don't quote prices, and nobody can price a basement accurately over the phone.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will interior drain tile keep my walls dry?
Not entirely. It collects water once it reaches the wall or slips under it. A wall membrane can route seepage into the drain so it doesn't run across the floor, but the wall itself may still be damp.
Can drain tile go in under a finished basement?
Yes, though the lower part of finished walls along the perimeter usually has to be cut out and rebuilt. Make sure that work is spelled out in the written proposal.
Related services
- Sump pumps and backups
- Foundation crack and wall repair
- Exterior waterproofing
- Dehumidifiers and moisture control
More background: Oneida County basement water guide.
Snowmelt on the floor, a weeping wall, or a sump that never rests?
Call and an Oneida County waterproofing company will come find where the water gets in.