Downspouts and gutters will collect and send out hundreds of gallons of water during a storm. Splash blocks only serve as a way to absorb and spread the energy of the falling water. Drain lines of durable 4 inch diameter plastic can capture and move the water to a better place on your lot. Read my column for more tips.
Negative slope causes a majority of basement or crawlspace drainage problems. Having landscaping work done on a home can cause drainage problems around your house. Try installing a linear French drain to trap and pipe water before it gets inside your house.
Splash blocks directly below down spouts do little to pipe water away from your foundation. For heavy downfall regions, a sump pump discharge pipe may not be piping the water far enough way. Invest in plumbing drainage pipe for this job.
To eliminate standing water problems around your house your foundation must be waterproof. Foundation drainage codes require a natural slope away from the house for water flow. Drain pipes, downspouts or a sump pump also can all pipe water away from the house.
Simple hidden trench drains really work well if your lot reminds you of the swampy Everglades. Try one of my Linear French Drains to turn your lot into a meadow or grassland like you see in travel films.
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