Questions to Ask A Seattle Drainage Contractor

Seattle drainage contractor talking with clients
Customer asking Seattle Drainage Contractor questions

There are a number of drainage companies who service the Greater Seattle area. There are some Seattle drainage contractors who don’t know the actual science of drainage, others suggest and implement half assed solutions.

Then there are some who have been designing drainage systems for years and have the skills and experience needed to implement quality, long term drainage solutions.

We have compiled a list of questions to ask your Seattle drainage contractor when you have them out to your home or business.

Top 10 Questions to ask your Seattle Drainage Contractor

  • What do you think is causing my drainage issue? What is the ROOT cause?
  • Will the solution you propose, permanently fix my drainage issue?
  • As a Seattle Drainage Contractor, have you see a similar drainage situation like we are seeing here?
  • Is there a way we could get away with a gravity system rather than a pump driven system?
  • What kind of upkeep will the drainage solution you are preposing require?
  • What kind of guarantee can you provide on the proposed drainage solution?
  • Tell me about the quality of the products you use for your drainage solution? 
  • Do you have any references that I could call with similar drainage systems?

Different Types of Sump Pumps: A Comprehensive Guide

Seattle area Sump Pump in basin. - Northwest Drainage

Sump Pump Introduction

A reliable sump pump is essential for safeguarding your home against basement flooding and water damage. Living in the Pacific Northwest, where heavy rainfall and damp conditions are common, choosing the right sump pump becomes even more critical. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different types of sump pumps available and their ideal applications. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, understanding these options will help you make an informed decision to protect your property.

Submersible Sump Pumps

Different types of sump pumps: Zoeller 53 submersible sump pump 1/3hp - Northwest Drainage
  • Description: Submersible sump pumps are designed to be fully submerged within the sump pit. These are the sump pumps that are typically used here in the Greater Seattle area.
  • Advantages:
    • Powerful: These pumps have high-powered motors capable of moving large volumes of water quickly.
    • Debris Filtration: Submersible pumps can filter out debris, preventing clogs.
    • Aesthetically Appealing: Since they sit within the pit, they don’t affect the visual appeal of your basement.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Cost: Submersible pumps are more expensive than other types.
    • Access Difficulty: Replacing or servicing them can be challenging due to their location within the pit.
    • Shorter Lifespan: Expect a lifespan of 5 to 10 years.
  • Best For: Areas with heavy rainfall and low elevation.

Pedestal Sump Pumps

Dayton pedestal sump pump - Northwest Drainage
  • Description: Pedestal sump pumps have motors mounted above the sump pit.
  • Advantages:
    • Affordable: These pumps are budget-friendly.
    • Easy Access: Their design allows for straightforward maintenance and replacement.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Less Powerful: Pedestal pumps are less efficient than submersible ones.
    • Visual Impact: The exposed motor may affect the basement’s aesthetics.
  • Best For: Narrow or shallow sump pits.

Battery-Backup Sump Pumps

Different types of sump pumps: batter backup Zoeller sump pump - Northwest Drainage
  • Description: These pumps operate on battery power during electrical outages.
  • Advantages:
    • Reliability: Ensures continuous operation even when the main power fails.
    • Peace of Mind: Protects against floods during storms or power cuts.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Battery Maintenance: Regular battery checks and replacements are necessary.
    • Limited Runtime: Batteries have a finite backup duration.
  • Best For: Ensuring uninterrupted pumping during power failures.

Water-Powered Sump Pumps

Different types of sump pumps: Northwest Drainage water powered sump pump - Northwest Drainage Seattle area
  • Description: These pumps use water pressure from your home’s supply line.
  • Advantages:
    • No Electricity Needed: Ideal for areas with frequent power outages.
    • Simple Installation: No battery or electrical connections required.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Lower Flow Rate: Water-powered pumps move less water per minute.
    • Higher Water Bills: Increased water usage.
  • Best For: Backup in emergencies when electricity is unavailable.

Combination Sump Pumps

Combination Sump Pumps installed and maintained by Northwest Drainage
  • Description: Combination pumps integrate features of both submersible and battery-backup pumps.
  • Advantages:
    • Versatility: Operates on main power and switches to battery backup during outages.
    • Best of Both Worlds: Combines the power of submersible pumps with backup reliability.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Cost: Typically more expensive.
  • Best For: Comprehensive protection against floods and power failures.

Conclusion

Different types of sump pumps have different types of drainage purposes. Choosing the right sump pump depends on your specific needs, budget, and local conditions. Here in the Northwest, Puget Sound area, most homes and businesses go with a Combination Sump Pump system. A main sump pump with a battery backup pump. Often times falling trees take out the power, and abundant rain hits at the same time. This is a reason why many folks go with a gravity drainage system, gravity never runs out of power.

As always, our suggestion is to consult with a professional drainage company to assess your requirements and select the best sump pump for your property. Remember, investing in a reliable sump pump is an investment in your peace of mind and the safety of your home. Stay dry, stay protected! 🏠💧

Which Type of Drain Should I use? (French Drain vs Trench Drain vs Swale Drain)

Typical Northwest French Drain by Northwest Drainage - Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and everywhere in between

Water is essential to life, and vital to the progress of civilizations. It is delightful to sip on a hot summer day or to watch falling gracefully into a fountain basin. However, water becomes an insidious foe when it decides to start pouring into your basement or collecting in sodden pools on your lawn. So, “which type of drain should I use?” 

Drainage, therefore, is a constant concern in the Pacific Northwest landscape. There are various devices designed to direct water over and through the landscape. Sometimes the terms can get confusing, so today I’d like to clarify the difference between three of the most common water diversion mechanisms: trench drains vs. French drains vs. swales.

SURFACE VS. SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE

Before we begin, let’s explore some basic drainage concepts. There are two main types of drainage in the landscape: surface drainage and subsurface drainage. In any given landscape situation, it’s important to first assess what type you are dealing with.

As a general rule we use surface drainage to deal with rainwater, especially heavy rain. Typically in this situation you want the ability to drain large volumes of water away very quickly in order to avoid flooding and erosion, and to prevent it from going where it’s not wanted. A good example of a surface drainage mechanism is a ditch on the side of a highway. Swales, flumes and trench drains are also used in various situations to convey water over grass, concrete or other media.

In contrast, subsurface drainage deals with groundwater. This can be water that percolates down into the soil from above or bubbles up on your property. Here in the South you might have seen groundwater entering a basement that contains a nasty orange colored substance called bacterial iron. We normally use French drains to deal with that kind of saturation.

Now, let’s take a closer look at French drains, trench drains and swales, and the differences between them.

WHAT IS A FRENCH DRAIN?

Most people assume that the French drain was invented in France, but that’s not the case. It was actually named for its inventor, Henry Flagg French. French was an American who practically invented the fine art of farmland drainage, mainly to remove waste-contaminated water from feedlots and help prevent disease.  He wrote a book called “Farm Drainage” in 1859 that literally became the basis of modern drainage.

The French drain is a true subsurface structure meant to address water that saturates the soil. Water is insidious, and will always seek the path of least resistance. When water flows through soil it’s typically under a lot of hydrostatic pressure. Often there will be a harder layer of soil or even rock under the top layer of soil. In this case the hydrostatic force pushes the water both downward and transversely, which is why it’s so common for water to move sideways through a foundation.

When water comes to a foundation wall, it tends to seep through any chink or crack in the mortar. A French drain works to keep your basement dry by diverting water from the surrounding soil into an underground barrier trench containing a gravel bed. Water is driven there because the voids in the gravel make it easy for it to travel through, making the gravel bed the path of least resistance. The water then flows into perforated pipes at the bottom of the trench. From there it is eventually discharged to an outlet, such as a swale, storm sewer, irrigation cistern, or sump. The entire system has to be designed to accommodate the natural flow of water from higher ground to the lowest point.

FRENCH DRAIN SECRETS

I can’t mention French drains without bragging a bit about our methods, because we include a few extra features that most companies don’t:

  • We include access points or cleanouts on the lines to facilitate maintenance and prolong the life of the system. Very important for routine maintenance of your drainage system.
  • If we pick up downspouts along the way, we send that water to a separate pipe, so it doesn’t backflow into the drainage system.
  • The most common problem with French drains is root intrusion; we use a filter fabric as a preventative measure to help keep roots out of the system.
  • When installing a French drain under a driveway or road, we use heavy duty structural corrugated drain pipe, not the stuff from the big box stores which can collapse if a truck drives over it.
  • We also bury our French drains at least 12”-18” deep to avoid collapse.

Does it add to the cost to do it this way? Well, it depends on how you look at it. When you consider the cost of re-doing a French drain—including all the excavation and disruption to the landscape—we think it’s well worth it to do it right the first time. So when you ask which type of drain should I use, I feel the key is to have a professional come out and look at your terrain and landscape and have them design a drain system that will hold up here in the Seattle, Pacific Northwest area.

FRENCH DRAINS VS. TRENCH DRAINS

There’s a lot of confusion between French drains and trench drains, because they sound so similar and because the French drain does incorporate a trench. However, unlike the French drain, the trench drain is a surface drainage structure.

A trench drain is a device designed to intercept and collect surface water over a long expanse. It is literally a trench with a grate on top. Trench drains are usually employed across a paved area to drain and direct water away from these surfaces. You see them a lot around commercial buildings like restaurants or loading docks to help keep the pavement in these areas dry and slip-free.  

Even though a trench drain is embedded in the ground, it is technically a surface drainage mechanism designed to clear water away fast. Under the grate is typically a plastic box-shaped trench that acts as a hidden surface water conveyance. A trench drain can be heavy duty and wide, ranging down to the inch-wide microdrains you’ve probably seen in pool decks.

TRENCH DRAIN VS. SWALE

Like a trench drain, a swale is a surface water drainage device. However, it’s a lot more subtle in terms of its appearance in the landscape.

A swale is like a ditch but it’s broad and shallow, and usually covered or lined with turfgrass or other vegetation. The purpose is to slow and control the flow of water to prevent flooding, puddling, and erosion and/or avoid overwhelming the storm drain system. Any time we can spread water out we slow it down and it will percolate naturally into the soil. (This is one of the main differences between a swale and a ditch; ditches tend to be deeper and to concentrate the water flow which increases its speed and volatility.)

Swales are very handy when you don’t want your drainage system to be obvious. A typical swale has a parabolic profile, starting at one edge and gently flowing down and up. You can do one so broad and shallow that it looks like part of the sculpting of the landscape. For this reason swales are often used in residential or commercial settings where there are large expanses of turf. You can also use them in sustainable landscape applications for water conservation.

Types of Residential Drainage Systems

Northwest basement drain repair and maintenance

What are, residential drainage systems? They remove excess water from around the home. This type of system helps whisk water away from walkways, driveways and roofs to avoid flooding.

An example of residential water drainage system

Types of Residential Drainage Systems

There are four main types of residential drainage systems: surface, subsurface, slope, downspout and gutters.

Surface Drainage System

For surface drainage to be successful, ditches must be dug in a parallel pattern. The ditches are shallow and will act as canals for run-off water. The ditches will lead the water into the main drain or away from the home to avoid water pooling or flooding. Surface drains are an absolute must if the area is flat since water pooling could potentially cause problems in an area that has a lot of precipitation.  This can be done around buildings, walkways or driveways to keep water flowing away from the structure.

Subsurface Drainage System

The general idea behind subsurface drains is that they are placed beneath the top layer of soil. This removes excess water from soil at the root level that has become water logged. If roots sit in water too long, they will begin to deteriorate and eventually the plant or tree will perish from too much water. The process to install subsurface drains requires digging deep ditches and installing pipes underground. A large collector drain must also be installed so the water can be collected from the pipes. In most areas, a sump pump will also be required in order to push the water through the pipes. These can cause disruptions in the soil and the natural aeration of the soil as well as plant respiration. This is also known as the French drain.

Downspout and Gutter System

The downspout is connected to the gutter system on a building or home and carries water away from the roof down to the ground.  The shape of the downspout pipes can be round or rectangular and are comprised of copper, aluminum or steel. The purpose of the downspout is to catch the water from the gutters and divert it to the ground. Most downspouts will empty out on a slope so the water will not pool at the base of the downspout.

Slope Drainage System

Slope drains allow water to generally take its natural course away from the structure and with the aid of pipes moving down a slope. A pipe is installed and then anchored into a small incline where the water will follow gravity through the pipe and away from the structure. The pipe can be metal plastic, steel or concrete and will be covered with a sturdy grate to keep people and animals from falling into it.

Residential drainage systems are a requirement for any home or building as it will prevent flooding, rot, mold, mildew and structural damage from too much water. Usually drainage issues can be spotted and then easily remedied. Even if water has not pooled or flooding occurs there could still be a slow leak that will cause extensive damage. The general rule is that all homes should have a gutter and downspout system in place. If additional drainage systems need to be added, then research each one and pick the best option for the home. If necessary, consult a local, professional drainage expert before installing or having a system installed.