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Channel or Trench Drain
This is simply a sloping trench covered by a metal grid, installed around the floor perimeter or in the middle of the floor. It doesn’t soak up water; it directs it to a sump pit or some another place where it can drain safely. It provides insurance against flooding from plumbing leaks and similar accidents.
The basement floor must slope toward a channel drain, so the trench is usually dug at the lowest point. Installation may necessitate resurfacing the floor to give it the necessary slope.
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Standard Floor Drain
Perhaps the most familiar of all basement drains, the standard floor drain features a round or rectangular grid covering the hole. It sits at the lowest part of the floor, collecting standing water that comes in through the walls or elsewhere. It sends the water through an underground pipe to the plumbing system or to a sump pit.
If it connects to the plumbing, this type of drain is best installed during initial construction, because it needs a P-trap and vent to prevent the release of sewer gases into the basement. Piping a floor drain into a sump pit avoids such complications.
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Sump Pit and Sump Pump
A sump pump and sump pit are often used in conjunction with another drainage network. But even without supplemental drainage, a sump system can effectively protect a basement from flooding due to a high water table.
Groundwater flows into the sump pit, dug below the floor. When it rises to a dangerous level, the pump switches on to empty the pit. Sump pumps are commonly found in basements built in poorly draining soil or low-lying areas subject to flooding.
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