Patented Drain Systems

French Drain Systems Installed Near Duluth, Superior, Bemidji

Different problems call for different tools to fix them. In the same way that we wouldn't use a hammer to pound in a screw, we wouldn't use generic piping to waterproof a basement.

At Northern States Basement Systems, we have the drainage solution you need to create dry, usable space in your basement or crawl space. We have specialized basement drain systems that we customize for your unique problem -- no matter what that problem may be. For a free basement waterproofing quote, call or contact us today! Our installations take 1-2 days.

The WaterGuard® Drainage System

Illustration of an exterior French drain system installed around the perimeter of a home

Our most popular drainage system, WaterGuard® is the ideal solution for most basement waterproofing applications.

Unlike old-fashioned drain tile systems installed on the outside of the home, WaterGuard® is installed just underneath the perimeter edge of the basement floor.

WaterGuard® Specifications

  • Includes wall flange with 3/8" opening to collect water from walls -- There's no gap on the basement floor to let humidity into the space or to collect debris.
  • Able to waterproof concrete block foundation walls -- Weep holes are drilled at the bottom of the blocks to drain the hollow cavities.
  • Will not clog with mud -- The system sits on top of the footing, away from the "mud zone" underneath your floor. Water is collected without the risk of clogs that would halt your system.

DryTrak® Monolithic Floor Drain

Illustration of our perimeter drainage system installed in a basement

As a baseboard drainage system, DryTrak® installs above the floor and along the inside perimeter of the basement.

If you have a monolithic foundation, meaning that your floor and footing were poured as one piece, this is the only drainage system that's appropriate. DryTrak® is also perfect for other applications when jackhammering the floor is not an option-- in basements with radiant heat, for example.

DryTrak® Specifications

  • Installs without jackhammering a drain channel -- Your monolithic floor (and your foundation footing) will not be damaged during installation.
  • Able to waterproof concrete block foundation walls -- As with WaterGuard®, weep holes are drilled at the bottom of the block to drain cavities.
  • Will not collect mud or debris -- As a sealed basement drain that is placed on top of your basement floor and against the wall, there is no opening for debris to collect in the system from the basement floor.

Other Drainage Systems

Along with our WaterGuard® and DryTrak® systems, we offer all of the following specialized drainage systems:

French drain for crawl space waterproofing SmartPipe™:
Crawl Space Drainage
grated French drain system for waterproofing entryways TrenchDrain™:
Grated Basement Drain
French drain with large openings to prevent clogging from iron ochre WaterGuard® IOS:
Iron Ochre System
wall flange designed to direct water to a French drain system FlowGuard®:
Thin Floor System

SmartPipe™

Perfect for the crawl space environment, this plastic piping system is designed to be installed in a drainage swale running along the perimeter.

Combined with a crawl space vapor barrier and sump pump, it will direct water underneath the plastic barrier to the sump pump, where the water is discharged from your home.

The SmartPipe™ system is the first custom-engineered crawl space drain on the market. With five perforated rows of drainage holes and a clog-resistant filter fabric, it's a cost-effective and long-lasting way to keep your space dry for the long haul.

crawl space drain system installed in Deer River

Trench Drain

Many homeowners have concerns with water flowing in through exterior doorways, stairways, and garage door openings. A normal drainage system cannot address this problem.

For these situations, we recommend the TrenchDrain™ drain channel and grating system. This is specifically designed to intercept water at doorways and similar openings and direct it to your sump pump.

TrenchDrain™ resembles half of a piping system with a grate fitted snugly on top. The grate is flush with or slightly below the floor, where it can catch water entering from the outside.

grated basement drain system for the end of stair cases that leak

WaterGuard® IOS

In some rare cases, homeowners with high iron levels in their water will experience a thick, reddish-orange substance oozing through when the basement floods.

This material is called "iron ochre", and it comes from both bacterial origins and from chemical reactions in the soil. It can easily clog your drainage system and stain your concrete, as well as anything else it touches.

WaterGuard®: Iron Ochre System (IOS) is the answer for homeowners with iron ochre in their ground water. This drain is specifically designed with wide openings and a completely removable lid that will help your system avoid clogging and provide clear access for maintenance.

Our IOS system address iron ochre issues for basement drainage in places like Deer River

FlowGuard®

Installing a drainage system along the footing is the way to go with most perimeter weeping tile systems. However, when basement floors are very thin, it may be impossible to "hide" a normal drain under the floor in this way.

For homeowners with very thin basement floors, we recommend FlowGuard®, along with a drain installed in front of the footing.

FlowGuard® will collect water from the wall/floor joint, as well as the basement walls. It then directs it to a drain that's placed in front of your foundation footer and underneath the floor. It's the best of both worlds for an unusual situation.

below foundation slab drain system for installing a French drain in Deer River

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our service area

We serve the following areas

Wisconsin
  • Barronett
  • Birchwood
  • Brule
  • Cable
  • Comstock
  • Couderay
  • Cumberland
  • Cushing
  • Danbury
  • Drummond
  • Exeland
  • Foxboro
  • Frederic
  • Gordon
  • Grand View
  • Grantsburg
  • Hayward
  • Herbster
  • Hertel
  • Iron River
  • Lake Nebagamon
  • Luck
  • Maple
  • Mason
  • Milltown
  • Minong
  • Poplar
  • Port Wing
  • Radisson
  • Rice Lake
  • Sarona
  • Shell Lake
  • Siren
  • Solon Springs
  • South Range
  • Spooner
  • Springbrook
  • Stone Lake
  • Superior
  • Trego
  • Webster
Minnesota
  • Beaver Bay
  • Finland
  • Grand Marais
  • Knife River
  • Lutsen
  • Schroeder
  • Silver Bay
  • Tofte
  • Two Harbors
Our Locations:

Northern States Basement Systems
4746 Rice Lake Rd
Duluth, MN 55803
1-218-955-7943
Service Area
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