Basics on Foundation Drains and Drainage Systems

If you're building a new house, one of the first things you can do to promote a well-drained foundation and a dry basement is to make sure your foundation or slab rises high enough out of the ground to create drainage around the house. When houses are set too deeply into the ground, it becomes difficult to build a slope that will send water away from the base of the house and to a lower point on the lot. Most building codes require that the ground slope at least 6 inches over the first ten feet away from the house, but codes vary from place to place.

Remember, an inch of rain on an average sized roof will send more than a thousand gallons of water to the ground! Some people place one or more sump pumps in their basements to empty water, but then allow the sump pumps to send their discharge out right next to the house. Sump pumps should be connected to your downspout system of drain pipes, so the water is removed from the area. Otherwise, it just socks back into the basement. Don't let it all run back into your basement: use trenches and piping to send it further away from the house to drain back into the ground.

A taller foundation will cost more, but if you value a dry basement, and especially if anyone in your family has mildew or mold allergies, you will find it worthwhile to start with a higher foundation or slab. French drains around the house, downspouts that move water not just down but also away from the house and pipes that carry storm water runoff either to a storm sewer or the lowest area of your lot will also keep your foundation area well drained.

Even when your foundation is high and dry, the fact remains that foundations are made of concrete, and concrete has an uncanny affinity for water. It loves the stuff! If you put concrete into dirt, the moisture in the dirt will be drawn into the concrete, which is why most basements are damp and fusty.

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Natural Drain Cleaner for Clogged Drains

The first thing you need to know before working on a clogged drain is that the drain cleaners you see advertised on TV or on the supermarket shelves are made of dangerous chemicals that will eat through rubber gloves, skin, certain kinds of pipe, wood and anything else they touch. If their fumes are inhaled, they can cause damage to the lungs, nose and mouth. If they are eaten, they will kill, even in small amounts. Even when they are used "properly", they can ruin septic systems, pollute groundwater, and destroy pipes.

For a more healthy and safe alternative, try a natural drain cleaner, such as Drainbo, that is made from natually occuring bacteria that will fix a clogged drain, but won't hurt your drain pipes or the environment.

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