Drain tile and sump pumps
If water comes in where the wall meets the floor, a drain along the footing and a well-set-up sump is usually the answer.
Interior drain tile sits below the basement floor, alongside the footing, where it catches water before it can push up through the floor joint. It runs to a sump basin, and a pump lifts the water out of the house. In a lot of older Mankato homes there was never a working footing drain, or the original clay tile has long since clogged.
What does installation look like?
- The floor is saw-cut and broken out in a strip next to the walls.
- Soil is dug out beside the footing and hauled away.
- Perforated pipe in clean rock is set to drain toward the sump.
- Block walls may get weep holes in the lowest course, and a plastic drainage sheet is often placed against the wall.
- The trench is re-poured and the basin is sealed with a lid.
The work is all indoors, so it can be scheduled through a Minnesota winter.
What separates a good sump from a bad one?
- A lidded, sealed basin that keeps out debris and damp air
- A pump with enough capacity for your peak spring inflow
- A check valve on the discharge line
- Discharge that ends well away from the house and won't ice over a walkway
- A backup pump or alarm, especially under a finished basement
Where can the water go?
Not into the floor drain or the sanitary sewer. Many Minnesota cities prohibit sump water in the sanitary system because it overloads treatment plants. Ask the contractor and your city where your discharge should end up, and keep it off neighboring property.
Replacing an old pump
If your pump is noisy, cycles too often, or you can't remember when it was installed, it may be time. Many homeowners replace the primary pump and add a battery backup at the same visit.
Pricing comes from the waterproofing company after it has seen the basement, checked the walls and figured out the water's path in. We don't quote prices, and a phone estimate before anyone has looked is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How do I test my sump pump?
Pour a bucket or two of water into the basin until the float rises. The pump should start, empty the basin and shut off. If it hums without pumping, or doesn't start, have it looked at before spring.
Do I need a backup sump pump?
If the basement is finished or stores anything valuable, a battery backup or high-water alarm is worth discussing. Pumps tend to fail during the same storms that knock out power.
Related services
More background: Mankato basement waterproofing guide.
Seepage along the floor, a cracked wall or a sump that can't keep up?
Call and get connected with a waterproofing company that works in the Mankato area.