4 Signs That You Have Drainage Problems and How To Fix Them

All the rain we’ve had lately has done some pretty wonderful things for the grass, shrubs, and flowers; however, when the alarm on your sump pump starts beeping and water starts showing up in places it shouldn’t, you know it means trouble for your house.

Drainage problems are commonplace in Kansas and are typically the result of poor grading and inadequately placed downspouts, but these issues don’t have to be a permanent ailment. If you can identify the issues causing the drainage problem and take the right steps to correct them, you can keep the interior of your house a whole lot drier, keeping yourself a whole lot happier in return.

4 Signs You Have a Drainage Problem

You have areas of standing water. It’s completely normal for water to be in your lawn after a big rainstorm, but if you are noticing puddles or areas of standing water long after the rain has stopped and the sun has come out, this is a sign of drainage issues.
Your grass won’t grow. Excessive water in the yard limits the amount of oxygen available for grass; therefore, if you’re noticing bare spots in your yard in areas that hold water after rain, a drainage problem is the likely culprit.
There is water in your basement or crawl space. Having water in a basement where there shouldn’t be water is a pretty obvious problem, but it’s worth noting that you should also keep an eye out for water stains, especially in basements if you don’t get down to the basement frequently.
There are sunken areas around your foundation. Depending on what material surrounds the foundation of your home, you may experience drainage issues as the result of natural settling. The combination of dirt clods, water, and gravity creates channels that allow water to flow up to the foundation.

How to Resolve Drainage Problems

Check the grade. The first thing you need to address is the contour of the ground around your home. Your goal should be to have the slope of the land drain excess water away from the house so you avoid water pooling in the basement and potentially damaging the foundation. In instances where grading isn’t a viable option, sump pumps and French drains can help alleviate some drainage problems.
Check the downspouts. One common issue with downspouts is that they don’t extend out far enough to keep water from pooling around the foundation. Ideally downspouts should carry water 10 to 15 feet away from the house and they need to remain clear of debris to avoid clogging.

Topeka Landscape Can Help

While the majority of drainage issues can be taken care of by addressing grade and using downspouts efficiently, there are some cases that require different solutions. Our team has been helping Topeka and the surrounding areas correct drainage issues for over 20 years, and we’re confident that we can help you too! Tired of dealing with drainage issues around your house? Give us a shout today and we can help with:

Grading
Downspout burial
Erosion control
Surface drains
Surface swales
Vertical drains
French drains
Dry creek beds
And more …