Rain, Rain Go Away - The Importance of Proper Water Drainage

Water is essential to life but can wreak havoc when it enters your home. It can cause problems such as basement leaks, mold, mildew, pests, wood rot, and other foundational damage. The following are signs of water damage and tips to divert water from your home.

Signs of water damage—Your home’s foundation may be in danger of collapse or show signs that a lack of proper drainage is compromising it. Here are some signs you need to install or replace existing drainage systems. If you find cracks in the walls or concrete, puddles on the lawn that don’t evaporate, doors that stick or don’t close properly, uneven floors, or bowed walls, the following are some guidelines to redirect water from leaking into your home.

Clean Gutters—Remove blockages such as twigs, leaves, and other debris that can cause a clog. Check that the downspout is not also blocked by flushing the gutter. Clear your gutters twice yearly in the early summer and late fall to avoid costly replacement or repair.

Collect, Absorb, and Remove the Water—You have many options, such as creating a rain garden, positioning a rain barrel near the downspout, or installing a French drain or sump pump. A rain garden comprised of plant matter and mulch can provide layers of protection. It should be at least ten feet from your house, and the yard should slope towards it. Direct your downspout into a rain barrel, and you can reuse the water for your lawn or garden. You can get a rainwater diverter to keep pests and debris out of the barrel. Installing a French drain or a sump pump requires more intensive labor but can collect and remove water below the foundation’s surface and move it away.

Property Adjustments—You can have drainage issues due to grading problems and driveway pavement cracks that meet your home’s foundation. You can prevent water from seeping into your home’s structure from the pavement by sealing cracks in the driveway with landscape foam. Poor grading due to faulty design or soil displacement can be fixed by re-grading your yard to direct rainwater to slope down from your home.

Drainage issues can happen when we least expect them due to the age of our home or from a severe rainstorm. Properties are usually designed to handle volumes of rain because the water will naturally flow to sewers, rivers, or lakes. However, if the water cannot do this, you could have a drainage problem. Protect your property by considering these helpful tips. If you need help with a drainage problem or how to handle one, contact your local water drainage technician, who will identify drainage problems and probable causes, then work with you to find solutions.