How to Install a Drain Pipe Around the Foundation for a Crawlspace

Like basements, crawl spaces need protection from water, which can seep into the crawl space from soggy soil on the outside. While you can install a drain around the foundation at any time, the best time to do so is during the construction of the crawl space. These exterior drains, often called French drains, foundation drains, drain tile or perimeter drains, feature a perforated pipe, situated at the footing level that collects groundwater and transfers it to a sump pump, which pumps the water away from the crawl space.

Shovel
Foundation drain tile
Aviation snips
1-inch rock gravel
Gravel netting
Sump bucket
Sump pump

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a hole for the sump bucket, next to the crawl space footing. The top of the bucket must be no higher than the level of the crawl space footing. Sump buckets vary in size but a hole that’s 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep should accommodate most buckets.
- 2
  Set the sump bucket in the hole, and rotate the bucket until the two side holes face the footing.
- 3
  Purchase a single piece of flexible drain tile pipe the length of the perimeter of the footing plus 4 feet. Look for the kind of pipe that comes with a protective mesh covering to filter out sediment and debris. The lumberyard will cut the piece for you from a long roll.
- 4
  Stick one end of the flexible pipe into one hole in the sump bucket, roll out the rest of the pipe and position it along the top of the crawl space footing. The footing is about 8 inches wide and the flexible pipe will sit right on top.
- 5
  Put the other end of the pipe into the other hole in the sump bucket after positioning the pipe around the perimeter. Each pipe end will extend about 1 1/2 feet into the bucket. Attach the pipe clamps that come with the sump bucket to hold the pipe ends in place.
- 6
  Trim the ends of the secured pipes, with aviation snips, so they extend no more than 5 to 6 inches into the bucket.
- 7
  Set the sump pump in the bucket and pull the electrical wire and the pump tubing up and secure it to them temporarily to the side of the foundation with duct tape or anything you have that will hold them in place while you backfill.
- 8
  Add a layer of 1-inch rock gravel in the trench so it covers the perforated drainpipe by at least 1 foot, and cover it with gravel netting. The netting comes in rolls of various widths. Select a width that covers the gravel layer completely.
- 9
  Backfill around the foundation and then hook up the electrical wire to an exterior outlet or direct wire it into the electrical panel, depending on the type of sump pump you’re using.
- 10
  Run the sump pump tubing out onto the ground, or into a storm sewer if permitted in your community.

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