Corrugated Vs. PVC Pipe Basement Waterproof System

Basement Waterproof Systems

• Moisture management is a significant challenge in basement construction. Water travels through the soil backfill of the footings and foundation walls from the surface above and the water table below. The waterproofing system for foundations prevents water and water vapor from entering the basement through concrete. Part of the system is the installation of drain pipe to collect water and convey it safely away from the foundation. The pipe is placed at the bottom of the footings on a gravel bed.

Corrugated Pipe

• Corrugated pipe is made from high density polyethylene (HDPE). It's flexible and able to conform to the contours of the ground, turn corners and adjust to obstacles. It's available in long coils of 100 and 250 foot rolls, reducing the need for joints and fittings. It's more difficult to maintain a constant slope with flexible pipe and the corrugations cause friction, slowing water flow and collecting sediment. Dual wall corrugated pipe with smooth interior walls improves the flow.

PVC Pipe

• Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipe is rigid and smooth. The pipe can be laid with a constant slope and the smooth wall keeps water flowing. It's sold in 10 or 20 foot sections, requiring more connections than corrugated pipe, but the fittings are watertight as they're glued together. PVC pipe is able to withstand heavy loads and it's easier to clean with a sewer snake than corrugated pipe, which is easily damaged and clogs more readily with sediment and debris.

Corrugated Pipe and PVC Pipe

• Both corrugated pipe and PVC pipe come in perforated and non-perforated form. Perforated pipe is used most often for foundation drainage systems to collect groundwater and surface water. The key advantages of corrugated pipe are labor savings and flexibility. It's also less expensive than PVC pipe. Choosing between the two is most often a matter of the ease of cleaning and the strength of the PVC pipe, as well as the consistent slope the PVC pipe maintains.