One inch of rain falling over one square mile is equivalent to 17 million gallons of water.
What does this mean to you as a homeowner? It means that you must be certain that water is being directed away from your home to avoid water problems in basements and crawlspaces. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is protected:
Gutters collect water from the roof and slope toward an exit point called downspouts. If the gutters aren’t working, water will flow over or through them and fall next to your foundation. Enough of this water will cause it to filter through the walls and into a basement or crawl space. This creates water seepage or even wall cracking and bowing. Prevent this by:
Downspouts carry the water away from you home. They may:
Wherever they go, downspouts should take water safely away from your home. Periodically, you should:
If they do not work or water flows toward the foundation, have them repaired as soon as possible.
If you have underground lines that run to the street, such as a sewer or downspout line, you must keep them clean. You should have them snaked periodically to make sure they are allowing water to flow. If they clog, they’ll cause flooding and foundation problems. How often should these lines be cleaned? It depends – for some homes, once a year is adequate; for others, it might need to be done every six months.
To prevent water from accumulating near your foundation, have your lawn graded- sloping at least 2 to 3 inches of drop for every ten feet of distance away from the house.