Repairs to Old Systems
In Vancouver, drain tile in old houses consists of a single sectional clay pipe 
beneath the ground around the base of the foundation on the outside of the house. In most cases, water collects in this pipe and flows beneath the basement slab to a small sump in the basement floor. From this sump, storm water leads back out and joins the sewer line where water leaves the property. Rain water from the roof is directed to the drain tile by means of rain water leaders that appear as pipes at the surface and beside the foundation, which connect to the gutter system around the roof. Therefore, old drain tile functions to handle both the underground water and rainfall water collected from the roof. This can put a heavy load on the system, especially when it’s old and degraded.
Our Company is highly experienced in this area and can quickly determine what if any repairs your old system requires to restore its normal function. If repairs are not an option, we can explain why and provide you with a detailed quote on upgrading your drainage to a new system.
Upgrading Old Drain Tile to a New System
If your system is degraded beyond repair, our drainage expertise can build you a new system that will protect your foundation and keep your basement dry. This involves carefully digging around the foundation of your home and removing the old drain tiles. We clean and check your foundation for cracks and imperfections, and then apply damp proofing to ward off moisture.
New drain tile is installed in the form of a 4 inch PVC pipe which is perforated and designed to collect water from the base of the foundation. This is installed all the way around the perimeter of the foundation and leads to a new sump which is 
installed outside the house. The drain tile is backfilled with a special drain rock to increase it’s efficiency. A second solid (non perforated) 4 inch PVC pipe is then installed around the house with up stands that service gutter down pipes at the required locations. This solid PVC pipe also directs water to the sump. This two–pipe system alleviates the burden on the new drain tile during periods of heavy rain fall and ensures that water is quickly moved away from around your foundation.
The new sump is protected from back flow by the City by means of a new back water valve which discharges storm water out through a single pipe to the City’s storm sewer at the property line (in an area with a twinned system) or is teed into the sewer line at the front property line where it can be twinned to a separate storm system in the future by City crews.
If your basement is finished or are contemplating having it finished make certain that your drain tile system is in good condition.
Make sure to protect your investment and avoid costly repairs, get a free inspection from Boondock Equipment West today.
Should you require a major upgrade, we’re here to answer any questions you may have, provide a competitive quote for the work, and perform the job to your utmost satisfaction. We are an approved contractor with the City of Vancouver and all stages of our work is permitted and inspected by City officials as per the by-laws.
