Are you dealing with drainage issues around your home’s exterior? If downspouts are too close to the foundation, high density soil prevents efficient absorption, runoff is interfering with high-traffic areas, or your lawn is plagued with recurring puddles, here are some cost-effective solutions to improve drainage on your property.
Keep the Gutters Clean
We can’t stress this enough – clean your gutters a minimum of two times a year, once in the spring, and then in the fall. Have a professional gutter contractor inspect the gutter system once every two years. Do homeowner visual inspections with each change of the season and after storms.
Should you add a leaf protector to you gutters? Leaf protectors prevent twigs, organic materials, and other kinds of debris from entering the gutter system. They are available in a variety of types and styles. Before investing in gutter guards, assess the trees on your property for the following to ensure the size of the openings will be small or large enough to manage the debris:
- The number of trees
- The same type or a mix of deciduous and coniferous – they have different leaf/needle sizes and shedding schedules
- Proximity to the roof and gutters
Extend Your Downspouts
Downspout extensions are attachments to the end of the downpipes. There are several kinds, designed with specific purposes, but they all have the same function, to extend the distance runoff is deposited from your home’s foundation. You need a downspout extension if:
- Water is being deposited too close to exterior walls
- Water is being deposited on a neighbour’s property
- The land slopes toward instead of away from your home
- Soil is consistently washed away
- Basement flooding has been a problem in the past
Landscaping Solutions
If the land slopes away from the house, but you get puddles in certain areas, fill in the dips with topsoil until it rises slightly above the surrounding soil level.
When soil compaction is an issue, aerate the lawn. Aerating creates holes that open up the soil, allowing the earth to absorb water, oxygen, and nutrients.
Mulch can also become compacted over time. If garden beds are experiencing poor drainage, rake the mulch to loosen it up.
Install a French drain. It is an underground trench dug a minimum of two feet and lined with gravel. A perforated pipe is then placed on top of gravel and covered with soil. French drains eliminate standing water, stop soil erosion, and protect plants and shrubs from oversaturation.
Build a rain garden. Rain gardens are a creative way to direct the flow of water from the gutters or hardscaping such as a driveway and allow it to be slowly absorbed into the soil.
Install a Catch Basin
A catch basin is a buried container (drum, barrel) that has a pipe attached at the bottom. It typically has a surface grate that filters out debris and allows only runoff into the container. Depending on the type of catch basin you’re considering installing, check municipal bylaws for any restrictions and other requirements such as a permit.
Install a Dry Well
Whereas a catch basin redirects water, a dry well is designed to hold water temporarily. Dry wells are perforated storage containers or a deep hole filled with stones. The perforations or stones slow down the speed of water absorption. Call BC 1 Call before digging a catch basin or a dry well.
