Grate Drain vs. Hydrostatic Pressure - water under the basement floor.

As I've talked about before, Hydrostatic pressure is the build up of pressure caused by water increasing in volume under the basement floor. Eventually water has no where to go but up and will force its way through gaps, cracks and pours into the basement or crawl space. There aren't many effective french drain systems that actively remove water build up from underneath a floor, however, one such system that does is the Grate Drain system from Grate Products.

There are a few key design advantages that the Grate Drain has over other products which will give your home an edge in staying dry and protected against future floods and leaks.

Grate Drain Pitch -
Pitching a system can have many benefits, however when talking about moving water, it plays one key role: Moving the water. Roman Aqueducts declined slightly over long distances to keep the water flowing in particular direction. This same method is used under the floor. The drain itself is pitched to encourage water to flow towards the direction of a sump location. This also allows the drain to remove water at different levels up to the underside of the basement floor. This gives you more protection and more of a chance for the sump to deal with more volume.

Volume of water - Large Holes
The key to any drain's success is measured by the volume of water it can displace. The more water you can get to the sump to pump out of the home, the better. Large punched holes on 2 sides of the Grate Drain allow for more water to enter the drain faster, and with less resistance. This encourages the water into the drain, and quickly carries it away to a strong sump pump to take care of removal. Remember, More Water Out - Less risk of flooding.

Speed and Control
So, more water volume moved faster protects against the basement flooding. Controlling the water, where it's going, and what options it has are also important to keep in mind. The sump location is specifically designed to be the lowest point in the system, most water will go there. But as water can continue to enter from around the foundation, the drain can control where this water ends up. Vapor barriers and high points in the drain catch water that might have found its way in. This forces the water to be collected from all angles, wall, floor joint, and under the basement. This then allows the sump to truly come in contact with all the water and moisture effecting the basement. The Grate Drain will deliver the water to this point, but it'll be up to the speed and strength of the sump pump to move the water out of the house faster than it coming in.

The Grate Drain is a powerful french drain system for the interior of your home. Protecting your basement or crawl space against leaks, flooding, or occasional moisture/humidity is what it is specifically designed for. This makes it an essential home improvement project for any home where the basement can be used.

Read more blog posts about the Grate Drain
Read more blog posts about the Grate Sump Sump Pump basin


Related Reading and Links
Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make. See what other readers have asked in Safe'n'Dry Basement Blog's Reader Questions Section
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