Clearing Drain Tile

I have a bungalow built in ~1925 in SW Wisconsin. With the recent heavy rains, the basement (of course) is showing some ill effects. The cement block walls are all dry, but there is some accumulation of moisture at the joints between the walls and concrete floor. In addition, a close inspection of some hairline cracks in the floor (some from cracking, some created when the water line was dug up and repaired) I am seeing moisture along these cracks. Nothing that will cause a flood, but enough to cause mildew problems. As some of these moisture-laden cracks are in the center of the basement, my uneducated guess is that some of the drain tile is plugged. An inspection of the floor drain shows that there is some water flowing into the drain from under the house, presumably from drain tiles.

My question is this: is it possible to clear out the drain tiles without digging trenches along the exterior of the foundation? This would be a great expense, not to mention I would have to replace both my and my neighbors driveway to dig. I am concerned that just patching the hairline cracks will do little to solve my problem. Ideas wanted.

Reply to
Gryhound
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The drain tiles only run around the perimeter and won't have much effect on the ground water level in the middle of the basement floor.

You can arrange to have the tiles flushed out with a high pressure flusher. A sewer cleaning outfit or waterproofing firm will have the truck for that. But, in a house that old, flushing may produce no benefit at all if (likely) the tile joints are thoroughly clogged up.

For a temp fix for water inside the foundation wall, you can drill holes in the bottom blocks. Insert 3/4" PVC pipe and run the water to a drain or to a sump pump. This really does work.

Jim

Reply to
Speedy Jim

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