Sumps vs. French Drains in Basement Waterproofing

Homeowners throughout Greater Cleveland and Northern Ohio know just how trying a year’s worth of rain can be. Even if your basement doesn’t flood, the sheer amount of moisture in the air can compromise the structural integrity of any home.

What waterproofing solutions should you invest in, then, if you want to keep your home safe from lake effect and other weather issues? How can you keep water out of your foundation? How, too, can you tell the difference between solutions like the French drain and sump pump, which sound so similar?

We’ll walk you through each solution and share how our team at Ohio Basement Authority approaches basement waterproofing.

All About French Drains

First off, it’s important to clearly define French drains. French drains are exterior drainage pipes used by many landscapers and other contractors. They are perforated pipes placed in a trench dug along the outside of your home, typically around plants and other foliage.

It is easy to confuse French drains with interior perimeter drains, which is the solution our team at Ohio Basement Authority installs.

Interior perimeter drains function similarly, but they are superior to and less invasive than French drains. These drains are great for comprehensive waterproofing and can help protect your home from light to above-average flooding or moisture. That’s good news, as many parts of Northern Ohio often receive more than 40 inches of rain every year.

Here’s a look at how local pros install an interior drainage system:

Excavate the interior perimeter of your basement, leaving at least one foot of clearance.
Drill weep holes in the walls to allow existing water to drain out.
Fill the excavated trench with gravel.
Install slotted drainage pipe and cover the laid pipe with gravel.
Re-cement your perimeter.
Connect drainage pipes to a sump pump system to move water out of your home.

When you have an interior drain installed, you’ll be back to business as usual in no time at all – this time without the flooding.

That said, these drains aren’t perfect. If you try to DIY your pipe system, too, you can risk compromising the structural integrity of your entire home.

All About Sump Pumps

Sump pumps, comparatively, are more aggressive than their drainage cousins. These pumps put in a lot of work to keep your home dry, using electricity to move water out of your home.

Here are the sump pump installation steps:

Install interior drainage, as described above.
Determine the lowest point in the basement, typically a corner.
Dig out a spot for the sump pump pit and liner.
Place the sump pump liner in the pit.
Set the sump pump inside the liner.
Test the sump pump’s float valve.
Connect the pump to drainage pipes.
Fill the hole with gravel.
Cover the gravel with a new layer of concrete.

As you can see, there are several similarities between the sump pump installation process and the interior drain installation process. What can a sump pump do, though, that a drain can’t?

Interior perimeter drains collect the leaking water, and sump pumps keep water from immediately re-entering your home. As a result, your belongings and structure stay safe, and the pump doesn’t over-exert itself.

If your power goes out, you could find yourself contending with all of the standing water you once thought you were rid of. That’s why it’s best to have a battery backup system for your sump pump.

Why Not Both?

installed sump pump liner and interior drainage system in basement

So, which of the two waterproofing solutions is better: the interior drain or the sump pump?

In the end, it’s far less about which solution is better and more about your unique situation. However, if you live in an area like Cleveland, which sees lake effect rain and snow, you may want to invest in more comprehensive solutions.

One of the best ways to overcome the “which is better” debate, more often than not, is to install both solutions inside your home. A drain’s pipe system will help intercept leaking water, and the sump pump system removes this water from the basement and keeps it from immediately making its way back inside.

In the end, these two solutions complement one another more often than they contest one another. Why not take advantage of that?

Get the Best Basement Waterproofing Solutions from Local Pros

Above all else, don’t wait to talk to local basement experts about the waterproofing solutions best suited for your home. If you’re dealing with a leak, a foundation crack, or excess moisture in your home, the damage will only get worse the longer it goes unrepaired.

At Ohio Basement Authority, we are familiar with the wet weather in Greater Cleveland and Northern Ohio, and how to put water in its place with our reliable basement waterproofing solutions. Our interior drains and sump pumps are second to none, and they are guaranteed to keep your home dry for good.

Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and estimate, and you’ll be one step closer to a permanently dry basement and healthier home.