Effective water management is essential in keeping your
home dry. Improper slope or clogged gutters can lead to a leaky basement.
Hopefully by the end of this short writing you’ll have a better understanding of
how to keep water out of your home.
First off let’s talk about your gutter system. Keep them
free of debris and make sure the downspouts drain far enough away from your
house. You should either clean out your gutters several times a year or put on
gutter guards to prevent leaves and debris from filling your gutters. If you
don’t you can have water overflow the gutters back behind them and possibly into
your home. Also make sure your downspouts don’t empty directly next to your
foundation. You want to divert that water away from your home not next to the
foundation where it might have the chance to seep into your basement. Adding
downspout extensions will divert the water away from the foundation and help
keep your basement dry.
If the soil around your house is sloped towards your home
then water won’t flow properly away from your house, it will have a chance to
possibly come into your basement. Make sure that the soil slopes away from the
structure at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet. Having more slope is a good
thing to get that water away from your home. Also make sure there aren’t any
places where water can sit near your foundation. Adding soil as necessary will
help give you that proper slope.
Properly diverting water away from the structure at the
exterior is always the best way for properly managing water. Adding a French
drain to the outside of your house can effectively manage water in those areas
where proper slope is almost impossible to achieve. Remember you always want to
stop moisture before it gets in so adding any type of water intrusion system to
the interior of the structure is not your best course of action.
Manage the water from the outside and it won’t have a chance to get to
the interior.
