Crawlspace encapsulation with drain and alarm system

Abstract

A drain and alarm system adapted for use with a crawlspace liner encapsulated crawlspace having a floor is provided. The drain and alarm system has a drainage base arranged to be disposed, at least partially, within a hole of the floor and a drainage cover coupled to the drainage base. The drainage cover has an airtight floor drain and a water activated alarm. The water activated alarm alerts a user of a water leak. The crawlspace liner is sealed to the drainage base or the drainage cover. The crawlspace liner has a drainage cutout allowing liquid to flow from a building side of the crawlspace liner to a floor side of the crawlspace liner through the airtight floor drain.

1 . A crawlspace seal system for sealing at least a partially subterranean crawlspace comprising: 
 a seal barrier disposed on at least a portion of the crawlspace for forming a sealed crawlspace; and    a drain system communicating with the sealed crawlspace for draining the sealed crawlspace, the drain system comprising;    a drain basin with a drain opening and an inlet, the drain basin being located relative to the sealed crawlspace to collect free flowing liquid on an interior surface of the sealed crawlspace, and being disposed at least partially outside a seal barrier of the sealed crawlspace so that the drain opening is outside the seal barrier and the inlet is inside the seal barrier and receives the collecting interior liquid, wherein the inlet is airtight and adapted to allow the collecting liquid to flow from inside the seal barrier through the inlet to the drain opening outside the seal barrier and prevents air or vapors from outside the seal barrier from entering through the inlet.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain basin is sealed to the seal barrier.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain basin is pumpless.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain opening is underground.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a soil or gravel drywell for accumulating drain liquid from the drain opening.  
   
   
       6 . A drain and alarm system adapted for use with a crawlspace liner encapsulated crawlspace having a floor, the drain and alarm system comprising: 
 a drainage base arranged to be disposed, at least partially, within a hole of the floor;    a drainage cover coupled to the drainage base, the drainage cover having an airtight floor drain;    wherein, the crawlspace liner is sealed to the drainage base or the drainage cover, and wherein, the airtight floor drain forms a drain passage through the crawlspace liner allowing liquid to flow from a building side of the crawlspace liner to outside the crawlspace liner.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an alarm activated by liquid entering the drain base.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the drainage base and drainage cover pinch the crawlspace liner between the drainage cover and the drainage base to seal the liner to the drainage cover.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the drainage base further comprises a pump adapted to pump the liquid from the drainage base to an exterior of the crawlspace.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the drainage base has drainage holes allowing the liquid to drain into the soil.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the alarm is connected to a home security system or service.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the alarm is water activated and alerts a user to presence of water flowing to the drainage base.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the airtight floor drain comprises a floating ball and a mating stationary cup, and wherein the floating ball seats in the cup forming a substantially airtight seal.  
   
   
       14 . A floor drain system for an at least partially subterranean room having a floor, the system comprising: 
 a drainage base arranged to be disposed, at least partially, within a hole of the floor;    an airtight floor drain coupled to the drainage base;    wherein, liquid may flow in a first direction through the airtight floor drain to the hole in the floor, and wherein, air is prevented from flowing through the airtight floor drain in a second direction, opposite the first direction.    
   
   
       15 . The floor drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the airtight floor drain is installed at a low point of the floor, and wherein, the floor has a cover comprising concrete or a vapor barrier, and wherein liquid flowing in the first direction is absorbed by soil within the hole.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the drainage base is installed below the cover to create a void space within the soil.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the airtight floor drain, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the airtight floor drain, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the airtight floor drain, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the drainage base has drainage holes allowing the liquid to drain into the soil.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the drainage base is surrounded by stone aggregate.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the drainage base has one or more drainage holes.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the drainage base is surrounded by stone aggregate.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the airtight floor drain comprises a floating ball and a mating stationary cup, and wherein the floating ball seats in the cup forming a substantially airtight seal.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the airtight floor drain, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage base is installed below the airtight floor drain to create a void space within the soil.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage base has one or more drainage holes.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the drainage base is installed below the airtight floor drain to create a void space within the soil.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the drainage base has one or more drainage holes.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the drainage base is surrounded by stone aggregate.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the void space communicates with a section of PVC pipe.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the airtight floor drain, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the alarm is connected to a home security system or service.  
   
   
       34 . A floor drain system for an at least partially subterranean room having a floor, the system comprising: 
 a drainage base having one or more drainage holes, the drainage base arranged so that one or more drainage holes are recessed into soil below the floor;    a drainage cover coupled to the drainage base, the drainage cover having an airtight floor drain;    wherein, the drainage cover is provided at an elevation equal to or lower than an elevation of the floor, and wherein, liquid may flow in a first direction through the airtight floor drain to the one or more drainable holes, and wherein, air is prevented from flowing through the airtight floor drain in a second direction, opposite the first direction.    
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the drainage base is surrounded by stone aggregate.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein a vapor barrier is pinched between the drainage cover and the drainage base, the vapor barrier being installed on the floor.  
   
   
       37 . The of  claim 36  further comprising an alarm installed proximate the drainage cover, wherein the alarm alerts a user to the presence of water.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the drainage base is surrounded by stone aggregate.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the cover comprises a first recessed area adapted to receive the alarm, and wherein, water flows to the first recessed area before water flows to the airtight floor drain.