Routine Maintenance for Drain Tile in Vancouver Homes

During spring thaw, accumulated snow could melt at an alarming rate. Combined with the amount of rainfall experienced at this time of the year, faulty drain tile in Vancouver can cause long-term damage to a building’s structure from the ensuing floods. Water seepage also causes houses to be chronically wet, which increases the risk for respiratory diseases and allergy from fungus spores. Frequent flooding also depreciates property value.

The drain tile is the most important component of a subsurface drainage system. This specialized pipe is more popularly known as a French drain or weeping tile. This is metal or plastic perforated piping meant to be installed underground along the perimeter of a building to direct storm water away from the footings and foundations of homes.

How to diagnose a clogged drain tile

Check the walls of the basement for moist or wet spots. This could be a sign that the drain tile needs to be cleaned. It is common for roots, soil, and debris to get into the drain tile through the gaps in its perforated surface.

To determine whether or not the water seepage is caused by a blocked drain tile, look at which part of the foundation is wet. Dampness at the lower part of the foundation will move up through the floor to the walls. Anything higher than that indicates a grading or downspout problem.

Unclogging a Drain Tile

Trained plumbers like those at Milani Plumbing, Drainage, & Heating, may use a sewer snake to unclog a drain tile. This tool is a flexible cable that has a rotating blade at one end. When the contraption is threaded into a pipe and rotated, the blade can gouge through debris that might be clogging the passage. It is inserted into a water collection point while water at high pressure is used to flush out the bits of debris pushed out by the rotating augur. Pipes that are too clogged or damaged to be cleared out with a sewer snake may need to be dug up and replaced.

Just as late autumn or early winter is the right time to have the heating in your Langley home looked at and calibrated, spring’s one of the best times to put your drainage system through a routine check-up. Having a professional conduct regular maintenance on your home can help you avoid costly repairs and save you from many a major headache.