When it rains heavily, the last thing you want to worry about is water entering your basement or crawl space.  In most new home builds today, a drain tile system is installed to ensure that groundwater doesn’t find a way into your home. 

To learn more about drain tile and how it works, keep reading, or simply give the Crete drain and sewer pros at Reid & Pederson Drainage a call today!

What Is Drain Tile?

The name “drain tile” is a little misleading since drain tile isn’t tile at all but usually a system of perforated PVC pipes that are laid beneath the foundation of a home. The purpose of these pipes is to collect the ground water before it enters your basement and either direct the water down and away from your home’s foundation, or direct it into a collection pit where a sump pump moves it away from your home. 

Drain tile can be installed around the outside of a home’s foundation or inside, beneath the slab floor.  Drain tile systems are effective in creating a path of least resistance for water to follow, meaning water is unlikely to seep into your basement via cracks in your foundation or slab. 

How Does Drain Tile Work?

Drain tile systems today consist of crush-resistant plastic (usually PVC) pipes that are perforated with holes to allow ground water in. It is best to install drain tile after the foundation footer of a new home has been laid. Pipe is typically laid in a trench that runs alongside the footer.

Next, the drain tile is covered with a layer of washed gravel. It is important that the gravel is large enough to not have the ability to enter the perforations in the pipe, but still be able to filter water as it enters the pipe.

The tile is then covered with a porous fabric that allows water in and keeps soil out. Lastly, soil is placed on top of the covered pipe to complete the system. 

Do I Need Drain Tile?

If you’re building a new home, it’s a very wise idea to consider installing some sort of drainage system as an extra layer of security to give you peace of mind. Drain tile systems are easiest to install during the early phase of new home construction. But what happens if your existing home begins to show signs of a water problem? 

The good news is that drain tile can be retrofitted to eliminate the water problem. The bad news is that this can be costly and labor intensive, requiring excavation inside your basement and/or outside in your landscaping. 

In this situation, drain tile is commonly retrofitted around the inside of your foundation where a channel is cut into your slab. Drain tile piping is laid beneath, which leads to a sump pit. When groundwater begins collecting beneath the slab, the drain tile directs it to the sump pit where the sump pump is then able to pump the water away from the house. Again, while this is no easy task, it can be done as a solution to ground water seepage in your basement. 

Managing Your Home Drainage System

Ensuring your yard and landscape are properly graded and directing water away from your foundation, along with ensuring your home’s gutters and downspouts are free flowing, are just a few simple ways you can manage your home drainage system and not worry about water in your basement or crawl space. 

Get Help From Drain Experts!

If you have any questions about drain tile or managing your home drainage system in the Crete, IL area, call the experts at Reid & Pederson Drainage today!

One of the most common plumbing problems in most homes is clogged drains. This is something that must not be ignored, or else, you will be faced with bigger problems, especially with the internal structures and on your pipelines.

While calling a plumber or a drainage company for drain cleaning may be the first thing that will come to your mind to deal with a clogged drain, you can first try resolving the issue on your own. If the problem persists, give the drain cleaning professionals a call at Reid & Pederson Drainage!

How to Use a Plunger Properly

You can deal with  your clogged drains by applying a technique that works most of the time. Start performing the task if there is standing water. If there is none, you can pour water into the area where the problem is. The drains and air vents must be sealed. Put the suction cup of the plunger on the drain until you are sure that everything has been covered and there is a good seal.

You have to exert effort in pushing and pulling that suction. Remember that you are doing this to dislodge the clog and get it moving. After several rounds of pushing and pulling, remove the plunger. If water is now going down the drain, you were successful in moving the clog. If there still seems to be a problem, no matter how minor it is, repeat the process, using the plunger until the problem is completely solved. If you’re still not seeing any improvement, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Check All the Drains Throughout Your Home

There are vital parts of your home that you need to regularly check for clogged drains. This is important in order to save water and save yourself from spending too much on replacing damaged pipelines and other fixture.

Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain & Bathroom Sink Drain

For the sink in your bathroom and kitchen, you must first make sure that all the air holes are covered with duct tape or cloth. Use the plunger as instructed above. While many homeowners opt to use expensive cleaning agents, it is best that you first try fixing the problem with a plunger in order to save some bucks in the task.

Clogged Shower Drain & Bathtub Drain

If the problem with clogged drains happened on your bathtub, you must first pull off the overflow cover plate. You can then put a rag onto the hole and start plunging the drain. For the showers, since there are no air holes that you need to cover, you can simply proceed in plunging the drain.

Drain Clog Pros in Crete & Beyond

If you’re still having issues with a clogged drain in your home, reach out to our drain and sewer specialists at Reid & Pederson Drainage. We’ll send out an expert technician and have things flowing again in no time!

Your toilet provides a very necessary function for occupants in your home. So when it begins to give you problems, it’s not a good idea to take a “wait and see” approach. Slow draining and slow flushing toilets reduce the effectiveness of your toilet and over time, that slow-down can turn into a clog…or something worse.

What causes a slow flushing toilet and what does it mean if it’s happening to you? Here, we explore a few of those causes and provide a few tips on how to fix a slow flushing toilet.

Low Water Level in the Toilet Tank?

One of the first things you can check is the water level in the toilet tank. The water inside the tank should be about a half an inch from the top of the overflow tube. If this isn’t the case, raise the float arm to increase the amount of water in the tank.

What’s Being Flushed Down the Toilet?

Make sure the only things being flushed down your toilet are waste and toilet paper. Even mild clogs can hinder the effectiveness of your toilet flush, with buildup in the line or past the toilet pipe trap restricting water flow, creating a slow flushing toilet. Never flush items such as wipes, paper towels or feminine hygiene products as these items will not break down in your line and will cause a clog. And if you have small children? Consider a toilet lid lock to prevent them from flushing toy cars, crayons or anything else they can get their small hands on down the toilet!

Loose Toilet Flapper?

Check your flapper! The flapper is the rubber cup-shaped fixture found at the bottom of your toilet tank that covers the drain from the tank to the bowl. Connected to it is a lift chain that is connected to a metal arm. When you flush the toilet, the chain rises, lifting the flapper and allowing the water in your tank to drain into the bowl. If your flapper is loose, it could constantly leak water into the bowl. If the chain becomes detached, the flapper will not open properly, causing problems such as a weak flush and ultimately a slow draining and a slow flushing toilet. Although annoying, a flapper issue can often be corrected without the help of a professional.

Hard Water?

If your home has hard water, buildup of minerals under the rim of the toilet and within the toilet pipes can cause slow flushing. Continued buildup can slowly decrease the diameter of pipes and thus, the flow of water through them. Buildup under the rim can also restrict water flow back into the bowl when it is flushed, causing a lower water level and therefore, a slow flushing toilet.

Toilet & Drain Line Pros

If you have a slow flushing toilet or your toilet is giving you other problems, give Reid & Pederson a call today. We’ll quickly send an expert drain service technician to your home to repair or replace your toilet so you can quickly get back to “business” as usual!