September 20th, 2014 8:48 PM by Dan Howard
First determine if an interior drainage system is even needed. If you can fix the water problem before it enters your home, you will save money and not have the disadvantages of a system. Run downspout drains away from the house. Seal gaps at driveways, patios and sidewalks where they meet house walls. Grade surface water away from the house walls. If water is still entering the basement, then consider a french drain system
A warranty is only as good as the company. Many companies come and go in the dewatering business. A company warranty is not worth the paper it is written on when a company goes out of business. Make sure the warranty is underwritten by an insurance company.
Have a sealed french drain system with an exhaust fan installed, not an open system.
Add a battery backup for the pump. Power most often goes out when it is raining. Guess when you need your system the most?
If you have a radon system in the home, make sure the warranty for the system will still be honored. Confirm that the system will be restored by a certified radon professional. If you have not had a radon test, be prepared that an open french drain system could increase the radon in your home.
Make sure that the footings will not be disturbed. Many installers remove portions of the footer to reduce the amount of concrete work they need to do. The IRC code specifies minimum footer sizes in section R403.1.