Crawl Space Drainage in Nashville, TN
Water that saturates the outside soils and seeps into the crawl space is a problem that has troubled Tennessee homeowners since the inception of the crawl space. Water can enter your home’s crawl space from under the foundation footing, through foundation walls, or through the soils due to a high water table. And without the right crawl space drainage system, you’ll be left with a damp, moldy, and disgusting crawl space full of standing water.
Take back your crawl space, get rid of standing water, and restore the safety of your home’s foundation with help from Barrier Waterproofing Systems! Our crawl space drainage experts can install a drainage system that leaves your crawl space dry and safe in no time. From sealing open crawl space vents to installing sump pumps and drainage systems, we can find a drainage solution that works for you. Contact us now for a free estimate, or keep reading to learn more about how YOU can enjoy a dry crawl space for years to come!
Contact BARRIER Today
Eliminate Standing Water From Underneath Your Home!
Is your crawl space crawling with critters or muddy with moisture? Our crawl space crew specializes in installing exterior and interior drainage systems throughout the Nashville and Cookeville areas, including these and other neighboring TN communities:
- Franklin
- Smyrna
- Watertown
- La Vergne,
- Juliet
- Carthage
- Madison
- Gallatin
- Hendersonville
- Lebanon
- Hartsville
- Brentwood
- Woodbury
- And beyond!
How Water Enters Your Home’s Crawl Space
When rain falls or a nearby body of water floods, water drains to the lowest ground of your crawl space and accumulates there. This causes the water to get between the vapor barrier and the dirt floor of your home’s crawl space. If you have a drainage discharge system, this isn’t a problem. However, if your crawl space does not have the adequate setup to drain water away, it will remain there. Since the water has a limited ability to evaporate after it is entrapped by your home’s vapor barriers, it lingers for days or even weeks in the crawl space, causing many issues with your home.
Too much moisture in your crawl space is more than just an inconvenience. In the absence of a waterproofing system, standing water can cause structural damage, wood rot, mold growth, concrete degradation, poor air quality, and decreased resale value of your home, among many other problems. But there’s a way to stop this irritating issue: crawl space drainage installation!
Barrier Waterproofing Systems has developed and refined a variety of common-sense crawl space drainage systems to keep your home dry and healthy. Each crawl space is inspected for the source of water. Once the source is identified, we will select an affordable and sensible approach that will eliminate standing water and keep your crawl space dry. Then, we’ll get to work on crawl space drainage installation. Before you know it, your crawl space floor will be safe, dry, and usable for storage once more!
Which Crawl Space Drainage System Do You Need?
INTERIOR CRAWL SPACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Standing water in your crawl space can be controlled with an interior drain system, such as our popular BARRIER Interior Drainage System. This is a full perimeter interior crawl space drainage system that is widely accepted as a standard repair option for many crawl space issues. If an adequate slope exists away from the home, a gravity drain system may be used instead of a sump pump system.
SUMP PUMPS
Crawl space sump pumps are another type of crawl space drainage system. They are installed within a sump pit or basin strategically placed in the lowest part of the crawl space. When excess water enters the pit due to factors like excess rain or high groundwater levels, a float switch or pressure sensor is triggered. This signals the unit to begin to collect water to prevent flooding. Submersible pumps are submerged in the water and work by pumping it out through a discharge pipe, while pedestal pumps remain above the water level, with their impellers drawing water through an inlet pipe. The pump’s actions prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up and direct the water away from the crawl space to a safe drainage area. This prevents structural damage, mold growth, and other big problems caused by heavy rainfall. However, it is important to remember that sump pump units are not meant to be used as standalone crawl space drainage systems in homes that have significant water drainage problems. To save money, we recommend using a sump pump as your SECOND line of crawl space drainage defense.
BATTERY BACKUP PUMP SYSTEMS
No one wants to deal with the inconveniences of time-consuming cleanup caused by flooding. As most flooding problems occur following severe weather episodes, many sump pump systems have been developed with reliable auxiliary power accessories, ensuring continued operation during flooding-related power failures. These battery backups and extended auxiliary power sources have many benefits. First and foremost, one of their biggest benefits is that they can prevent thousands of dollars in financial material losses and structural damage (as flooding can wreak havoc on everything from your concrete foundation to your floor joists). They can also be used to complement and connect with other drainage systems to prevent standing water in your living space, or installed during the new construction process. If you’re interested in adding a battery backup to your interior drainage system, speak with our crawl space experts today!
POSITIVE OR GRAVITY CRAWL SPACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM
A positive drain or gravity drainage system (sometimes called a “low point drain”) allows water to naturally drain out of the crawl space. There is no power required to remove water with this type of crawl space drainage system. This discharge style works when water travels to the lowest area within the crawl space, as this indicates there is a slope. This water collection area is identified and caught by a drain that is installed to let it flow to an even lower level outside the foundation. If there is not enough slope to allow adequate crawl space drainage, then a positive drain system cannot be used and a sump pump will be needed.
ENCAPSULATION
While exterior and interior drainage systems can help prevent rotting wood, structural damage, and other crawl space drainage issues, installing a crawl space drainage system may not be enough. We may recommend encapsulating your crawl space in addition to adding a drainage system. Crawl space encapsulation is the process of forming a barrier of protection from the underneath of your home from your actual living space. Many crawl spaces in Tennessee have open vents, which can have a negative effect on crawl space drainage systems (and other drainage systems attached to the home). Encapsulation involves properly sealing and managing these open crawl space vents, protecting the concrete and wood structures underneath your home. We may also install a vapor barrier to keep out moisture.
All crawl spaces with open vents can benefit from encapsulation. When the procedure is performed correctly, your crawl space cannot collect water as easily, even with a high water table. Additionally, the vapor barrier serves a dual purpose as the air that exists in your crawl space is prevented from passing up into your living space, which creates healthier living conditions for your family. This solution is cost-effective and eliminates structural problems, fungal growth, and black mold before they can start becoming a problem in your home. It can also make your HVAC systems more energy-efficient and keep warm or cool air inside where it belongs. After this process is complete, many homeowners notice a difference right away!
Crawl Space Drainage FAQs
While some moisture might be expected in a crawl space after rain, excessive water accumulation in crawl spaces is not normal. Excess moisture can lead to issues like mold and mildew growth, structural damage, sagging floors, and compromised air quality in your living space.
A crawl space drainage system is essential if your crawl space is prone to water accumulation. Proper drainage helps prevent water buildup, which can lead to various problems. If you’ve experienced water-related issues in your crawl space, an exterior or interior drainage system can be a valuable solution. If your moisture problem is on the tamer side or you’ve noticed high humidity in your otherwise dry crawl space, we can also provide solutions for crawl space dehumidification. No matter what you may need, we always offer free inspections, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!
No two crawl spaces are identical, so the “best” option for your crawl space might not be the same as your neighbor’s. We select crawl space drainage systems based on several factors, including the crawl space’s size, local climate, and water sources. French drain systems, crawl space repair, and exterior grading adjustments are common solutions. A combination of methods might be recommended for optimal results (the “stack effect”). The BWS team specializes in installing all types of crawl space drainage systems, so don’t wait to reach out to us.
The cost of installing a crawl space drainage system can vary widely based on factors like the chosen drainage methods, the extent of the issue, and labor costs. We recommend that you consult with us to get an accurate cost estimate tailored to your specific situation.
The lifespan of a crawl space drainage system depends on factors like the quality of installation, materials used, and ongoing maintenance. We take pride in installing superior exterior and interior drainage systems here at BWS, so with proper installation and regular upkeep, your drainage system can last for many years, effectively protecting your crawl space from water-related problems.
Hundreds of Crawl Spaces Protected!
Don’t risk the chaos that crawl space water damage and high humidity can cause for your household. From toxic fungal spores to water pooling under and destroying your personal belongings to water damage to your concrete foundation, crawl space problems can quickly spiral out of control. Contact BWS for an exterior or interior drainage system for your crawl space in Nashville, Cookeville, Franklin, Smyrna, Watertown, La Vergne, Mt. Juliet, Carthage, Madison, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, Hartsville, Brentwood, or Woodbury, TN, , and see why so many customers sing our praises! We hope to hear from you soon.
