Effective Water Management

 

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.