Basement Drainage in Philadelphia, PA
A damp basement often starts with water that collects against the foundation and has no better route. Owners in Philadelphia, PA can use this free referral service to pass their request to one independent local contractor, who looks over the roof edge, the yard and the basement and puts drainage choices and prices in writing.
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French Drains and Footer Drains
A footer drain, often called interior drain tile, is perforated pipe in a trench along the inside of the wall at footing level. It catches seepage where wall meets floor and carries it to a sump pit, and the pump sends it outdoors. A French drain is gravel and pipe in a yard trench that intercepts water before it reaches the house. It needs open ground and a lower outlet, so it suits a twin or detached home with a yard better than a rowhouse with a paved patio.
Above ground, start with the gutters. A downspout releases much of a roof's rain at one corner, so its outlet should be extended or turned away from the wall, and soil and paving beside the house should slope outward. About 40% of the city's homes predate 1940 (DVRPC, from Census data), so if a downspout vanishes into a buried pipe, find out where that old pipe leads. Wet years put all of this to the test: the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly issued a record 147 flood warnings by early September 2026 (Inquirer).
Sewer water is a separate issue. Combined sewers carry rain and household wastewater together across about 60% of the city, and a big storm can force that flow back up a floor drain (Philadelphia Water Department). A backwater valve on the house drain closes against it. Homeowners are responsible for their own house drain, curb trap and lateral. PWD's Basement Backup Protection Program fits a backwater valve at no charge for eligible owners and can alter downspouts if needed: (215) 685-4901.
Typical Reasons to Request Basement Drainage
- Gutters that spill over. Clearing, resizing or rehanging gutters that overflow in a downpour.
- Downspouts dumping at the wall. Extensions or a new outlet so roof water ends up away from the foundation.
- Ground that tips toward the house. Regrading soil, or fixing paving, so water runs outward.
- Water at the floor's edge. Interior drain tile along one wall or around the whole basement, feeding a sump.
- A wet strip of yard. An outdoor French drain, where there is room and somewhere lower to send the water.
Cost Ranges in Philadelphia
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical basement waterproofing project | about $3,000 to $10,000 (average about $5,000) | Fixr national (2026) |
| Interior perimeter drain, per linear foot | $40 to $120 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Sump pump installation | $600 to $2,500 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Epoxy crack injection, per crack | $250 to $1,000 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Waterproof paint or sealant, per sq ft | $1 to $8 | Fixr national (2026) |
Interior drain is priced by the foot, so one wet wall and a full loop land far apart; gutter and grading work is priced job by job. Backwater valves appear in the cost guide, and the cost calculator estimates drain length from your basement's size.
The Typical Job, in Order
- Look during a storm. Note where water pools outside and where it shows up downstairs.
- Outside first. Gutters, downspout outlets and the slope of the ground usually get checked before the floor.
- Measured footage. A drain tile estimate names the walls covered and the total feet.
- Every outlet named. The plan shows where the downspouts and the sump line empty, and nothing joins the house drain without asking first.
- Trades and permits. Backwater valves and any tie-in to the house drain are plumbing, handled by a licensed master plumber with a permit. The contractor confirms with L&I which permits apply and names who pulls them.
- The next heavy rain. That is the real test of the finished work.
A Simpler Way to Compare
Water often finds more than one way in, so it helps to have one independent local contractor see the roof edge, ground and floor in a single visit. The referral costs nothing and comes with no gift or payment; contractors may pay the site for advertising. This site does no drainage work and holds no Pennsylvania home improvement contractor registration or City of Philadelphia contractor license.
Check the contractor's PA registration number through the Attorney General's online search or at 1-888-520-6680. Pennsylvania requires a signed, written contract for home improvement over $500, and yours should list the drain's route and footage, the outlet points, start and finish dates, the total price and the warranty terms. Ask for proof of insurance too.
Questions Homeowners Ask
Should I fix gutters and grading before drain tile?
Often, yes. Outside work usually costs less and keeps water off the wall entirely. If the basement still gets wet once gutters, downspouts and slope are sorted out, ask a contractor about an interior drain next.
Will PWD change my downspouts?
Possibly, as part of the Basement Backup Protection Program. PWD lists free downspout changes, if needed, alongside the free backwater valve. Eligibility includes a current water bill or payment agreement, no open violations and a sound sewer lateral. Ask the program at (215) 685-4901; this site has no role in it.
Can drain tile go under a party wall?
Interior drain runs along the inside face of each wall, shared walls included, so a rowhouse basement can often have a full loop. How it meets an old stone or brick wall, and where it ends up, is for a contractor to settle after seeing the basement.
You May Also Need
Footer drains empty into a pit, so see sump pump installation; a damp spot in one place may call for basement leak repair or foundation crack repair, and full basement waterproofing covers whole-house systems.
Get a Written Drainage Estimate
On the form, say where the ground stays soggy, where water shows up in the basement and which kind of weather brings it. One independent local contractor serving Philadelphia replies to set up a visit and a written price, and the decision to go ahead stays with you.