Common Drainage Problems and Solutions

Water is essential to keeping your lawn, plants, and garden healthy. Sometimes, you can sometimes have too much of a good thing. Drainage problems cause water to collect in certain areas of your land, leading to a range of issues, including:

• Root rot and plant death
• Soil erosion
• Mosquito and pest issues
• Foundation damage
• Basement flooding
• Mould and mildew growth
• Soil instability

If you notice water pooling around your property after rain showers or snow storms, it’s time to understand how to fix your drainage problems.

Identifying Common Drainage Problems

If you’ve noticed that water consistently pools in certain areas around your property after a heavy rain or winter thaw, it’s time to take steps to address the issue. Once you’ve identified the problem areas, take a proactive approach to learn how to improve drainage around your house, which will help you avoid bigger, potentially more expensive issues in the future. The first step is to identify the source of your drainage problems so you can apply the best solution.

Drainage Problem: Poor Grading

Water always seeks the lowest point, which means if your property is not graded properly or designed to handle excess water from drainage, you will have a problem. During construction of your home, a reputable and experienced builder will ensure the property is graded correctly to ensure the ground slopes away from the foundation. If the ground is not graded properly, water can pool near the foundation, which may result in water intrusion into your home and/or basement. It can also result in foundation damage, and unhealthy soil conditions.

The Solution: Regrade Your Property

Take a walk around home after a heavy rain or snow melt and identify areas where water is pooling. Depending on the number of areas and amount of water, you may need a professional to access your property, especially around the foundation to determine the proper solution. If the issues aren’t severe, you may be able to level an uneven lawn yourself by filling in low spots with dirt to create a gentle slope away from your structures. It may also require adding a lot more soil in certain areas around the foundation to increase the slope around your home. In more severe cases, hiring a landscaping company like The Grounds Guys® to bring in specialized equipment and properly grade the land can solve the issue.

Drainage Problem: Clogged Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters and downspouts play an essential role in channeling water away from the foundation of your home. Throughout the season, leaves or other debris can clog gutters and downspouts making them less effective at moving water away from the foundation of your home.

The Solution: Add More Drainage

It’s important to check your gutter and downspouts at the start of each season. Make sure you clear out any leaves, dirt, and other grit that could clog your gutters and cause water to pool on your roof or collect around the foundation of your home.

Drainage Problem: Compacted Soil

Time, foot traffic, and poor soil composition can all lead soil to become compacted, which makes it difficult to absorb water. As a result, water may pool on top of compacted soil or cause greater runoff and erosion.

The Solution: Manage the Soil

Take a survey of your property, especially areas that have experienced water pooling in the past to determine if the soil has become too compacted. If so, break up the soil with a shovel, other tools, or machinery to allow for better water absorption. You can also try aerating the ground by pulling plugs of soil from your ground, this form of aeration creates space in the soil, which allows it to better absorb oxygen, nutrients, and—yes—water. Depending on the size of the area and level of compassion, you may need to hire a professional to get the job done.

Drainage Problem: Hardscape Features

Patios, walkways, and driveways can add character and greater functionality to your outdoor space. However, certain common hardscape materials, like traditional concrete and asphalt, don’t allow water to drain, which causes pooling or water runoff into unwanted areas.

The Solution: Add More Drainage Options

If water is pooling around hardscape areas, adding a French drain, catch basin, dry well, or rain garden to your property that directs water to other, more suitable areas should solve the problem. Consult with a professional for the best option.

Drainage Problem: Poorly Designed or Damaged Systems

If your drainage system is inadequate or doesn’t receive regular maintenance, it can easily become overwhelmed during heavy rain or when snow begins to melt. Severe weather (especially extreme cold) can break or damage pipes. Be sure to inspect your system at the start and end of each season.

The Solution: Add More Drainage Options

You can prevent a lot of drainage issues simply by installing and maintaining a well-designed drainage system. The key is to create a system that can handle the water load of your property and move it safely away from your structures. Periodically check your drainage, especially after heavy rain, to see if it effectively handles the excess water. Regularly inspect pipes and downspouts for damage and make necessary before they lead to bigger problems. If you're dealing with a poorly designed drainage system, have a professional inspect the system to get a better idea about the upgrades and/or repairs that are needed.

Effective Solutions: How to Fix Drainage Problems

The appropriate solution for your drainage problem depends on what’s causing the issues in the first place.

If your drainage problems are caused by poor grading, there’s really only one solution. You’ll need to regrade your property. If clogged gutters are at the heart of your drainage problems, clean them out. However, if you’re not comfortable or able to work on a ladder, hire someone who is experienced to do it.

If your current drainage system still leaves water pooling on your property, invest in an upgraded drainage system. The exact makeup of that system will depend on your property needs, your budget, and your personal preference. As suggested, adding a French drain, catch basin, dry well, or rain gardens to your property may be just what is needed.

If you have a DIY spirit, you may be able to take on some of these drainage projects yourself. For others, it probably makes more sense to hire a professional landscaping team.

When it comes to compacted soil or soil with a high clay content (which can resist absorbing water), soil aeration is one of the best ways to address the issue.

Several parts of Canada, including Southern Ontario and Southwestern British Columbia, are known for their clay soil. Clay particles are large and stick together, making it difficult for water to get through. Amending your soil is a slow but steady way to manage high clay content.

Lastly, it may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to protect your property from drainage problems is to simply perform ongoing maintenance. Properly maintaining your landscape, which includes checking your gutters and drainage systems regularly, and taking care of your soil so it doesn’t become too compacted, will go a long way to ensure your property is prepared to handle heavy rains and snow melt.

How to Prevent Drainage Problems

Your grandmother probably told you that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” She was right, especially when it comes to drainage problems. Poor drainage can damage your foundation or cause your basement to flood, both very expensive problems to fix. It can also kill the plants in your garden and negatively impact your landscape and bring mould into your home.

To avoid these issues, fix any drainage issues before they become a problem.

Good Site Planning

If you own a piece of land and plan to put any structures on it, do yourself a massive favour and invest in proper site planning. Consider drainage from the outset and pay for proper grading. You’ll save yourself a lot of money and frustration in the long run.

Clean Your Gutters Regularly

Clean your gutters and downspouts at least two times a year or even more often if your property includes many neighbouring trees.

Use the Right Materials

When adding hardscapes to your land, like walkways and patios, use water-permeable materials. These materials allow water to pass through so it can be absorbed into your soil.

Install Drainage Systems

Don’t wait until standing water damages your home and landscape. Proactively install French drains, catch basins, and other drainage solutions. An experienced landscaping company can help you develop and implement a comprehensive drainage system for your property.

Maintain Healthy Soil

As long as your soil is healthy, it plays a huge role in absorbing rainfall, snowmelt, and water from your irrigation system. Perform regular maintenance of your soil to prevent it from becoming compact. If your soil has a high clay content, amend it regularly with organic compost.

For Drainage Problems and Solutions, Consult the Professionals

Whether you want to prevent drainage problems from ever getting a toehold on your property or you need help with existing issues, get the help you need from the experienced pros at The Grounds Guys®.

Our local teams provide residential drainage solutions and commercial drainage repair services to address your drainage problems. We resolve issues like poor grading, compacted soil, and inadequate drainage to protect your home and property from water damage. We work with you to design a plan and install a drainage system that works for your property and budget. We can also keep your soil healthy with ongoing lawn care and landscape maintenance.

Don’t let poor drainage negatively impact your home or property, request a free estimate today.