Good foundation drainage is necessary to keep your home’s foundation structurally sound. Poor foundation drainage can lead to thousands of dollars in repair costs. However, when most homeowners think of the most significant hazards to their home, they immediately think of fires, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. The truth is, the soil underneath homes is the leading cause of structural damage in the United States.
You heard that right.
Soil with a lot of clay swells when it absorbs moisture and then shrinks when it dries out. This creates movement under the foundation, which will, over time, lead to foundation trouble. Other soil types are prone to erosion, which can create voids under the foundation, leading to foundation issues over time.
Good drainage is essential if you want a healthy foundation under your home.
How to improve drainage around your home’s foundation
Directing water away from your home is paramount. You do not want to allow water to pool around your foundation, which can happen quickly in a major storm. Here are some things to do:
- Clean your gutters regularly. Remove any leaves or debris from your gutters to ensure that water will drain properly and not flow over the edge and pool around your house.
- Your downspouts should adequately direct water away from your house. If your downspout is too short or directed towards a divot in your yard, your downspout can cause water to pool near your foundation. During a rainstorm, go outside to ensure water from the downspout flows away from your home.
- Test your sump pump. We have talked before on this blog about how to test your sump pump and maintain it. Now is the time to put that into practice. During a storm is not when you want to find out that your sump pump isn’t working. Test it now and beat the rush if you do need it repaired. Also, if your sump pump discharge pipe is not set far enough from your home, water can pool around your foundation resulting in seepage and structural problems.
- Install an underground downspout along with a pop-up emitter. An underground downspout and sump pump discharge extension will transport water away from your foundation into a bubbler pot. After pressure builds in the bubbler pot, the lid opens and distributes the water evenly across your yard. Not only does this provide superior water drainage, but it also eliminates any tripping hazards from extended downspouts.
If you’re noticing water in your basement, or large cracks in your foundation, it’s time to call the experts at Epp Foundation Repair to set up a free repair estimate.
