Crawl Space Drainage System

Ending crawl space moisture problems begins with drainage pipe and other moisture control products

Do you have a wet crawl space? Have you noticed standing water on the crawl space floor, water signs on your walls, or muddy soil in a dirt-floored crawl space?

If you answered “yes” to the questions above, you probably need a crawl space drainage system. In a dirt-floored crawl space, ground water leaks into the crawl space through the soil, creating a muddy mess. When water leaks into a crawl space with a concrete floor, it comes through cracks in the floor or through the gap between the floor and the foundation wall.

In rainy weather or during flood conditions, water can leak into the crawl space through openings for crawl space vents and crawl space doors. Plumbing leaks in the crawl space and condensed moisture are other sources of crawl space moisture.

No matter how water leaks into your crawl space, it’s important to drain the water out so that this area can stay dry. A dry crawl space won’t attract mold and mildew, two types of fungi that can cause wood rot while also creating indoor air quality problems.

Key parts of a crawl space drainage system

The type of drainage system used in a crawl space depends on conditions in the crawl space. At least some of the following components will be necessary.

• Drain pipe. CrawlDrain™ drainage pipe from Ohio Basement Systems is the best type of drain pipe to use in a crawl space with a dirt floor. Thanks to its unique “d” profile, CrawlDrain™ can collect water from foundation walls and from a dirt crawl space floor (see photo). If the crawl space has a concrete floor, either BasementGutter® or drain lines are recommended.
• Crawl space sump pump. Unless your crawl space drain lines can be pitched to drain water outside the foundation, a crawl space sump pump will be necessary. Crawl space drain lines will carry water to a sump pit installed in the crawl space floor. From this collection point, a sump pump will automatically discharge water to the exterior once water reaches a certain level in the sump pit.
• Drainage matting. This dimpled plastic mat material is often installed over a dirt-floored crawl space to create a drainage space that helps water find its way to your drain lines.
• Waterproof membrane. This durable moisture barrier is installed during the crawl space encapsulation process. It helps to direct water toward crawl space drain lines, while also keeping the crawl space interior dry.
• Crawl space vent covers and doors. To prevent water from leaking into the crawl space through open vents and standard crawl space doors, it’s best to seal these openings with gasketed, waterproof covers such as the vent covers and doors available from Ohio Basement Systems.

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