Some Tips for Improving Drainage Around Your Home: a blog about strategies for improving drainage.

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Have you ever thought about your home’s foundation or drainage system? Chances are if you’ve owned a home for more than a year, you probably should. Proper attention to the foundation and drainage system will help prevent future problems.

Having a home inspection to identify and correct foundation drainage deficiencies will help protect your home. As the owner and lead inspector here at 3 Arrows Property Inspection, I have seen way too many homes with unhealthy moisture problems due to improper grading and drainage. These deficiencies may not be visible at first, but if ignored they can lead to soil erosion and subsequent foundation stress and cracking, or worse; partial or complete structural failure of your house. Identifying these issues early on in your home ownership journey can help protect your investment.

Drainage is an important aspect of a home’s foundation. If your home has poor drainage, it can cause problems in the long run. Poor drainage leads to water damage and mold, which can be very expensive to repair.

Here are some things you can do to improve the drainage around your home.

  1. Establishing and maintaining proper exterior grading is the single most important thing you can do to help your home’s foundation last a long time and continue to perform as it was designed. Remember, your foundation is holding up the house and dirt is holding up the foundation. If through soil erosion, that dirt is disturbed or moved, everything around it will shift and could drop translating into the unwanted movement of your home.
  2. Clear out any debris from the gutters and downspouts in your yard. This can help prevent any clogs from forming in these areas. Clean and free-flowing gutters are the first line of defense against ponding water problems at your foundation.
  3. Check for any clogs in the pipes leading from your house to the street or storm drain. This may be caused by leaves or other debris that have built up over time. If there is a clog, remove as much as possible with a rake or shovel then call a professional plumber or contractor to come out and clean it out completely. You should also check for any cracks or holes in pipes leading away from your house; if you find any of these issues, have them fixed right away so that they don’t lead to bigger problems down the road!
  4. Check all drains inside your home regularly (such as sinks) and make sure they are draining properly; if they aren’t working properly then call a plumber immediately so your drains don’t back up potentially flooding your crawlspace or basement.

If you’re a homeowner, you know all too well how common problems in your yard can be. In fact, one of the most common complaints by homeowners is drainage issues. At first, these issues may seem small, but they can develop into larger problems over time. With so many adverse effects of poor drainage, it’s imperative that you take action as soon as you experience a problem. Thankfully, we’ve outlined a few effective ways to improve the drainage around your property.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office at 615-588-6689 and we are glad to be of service in any way!

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