Keeping rainwater away from your home is an important aspect of home maintenance. When rainwater is not properly directed away from your home, it can lead to serious water damage and costly repairs. Here are some tips for keeping rainwater away from your home.
- Install gutters and downspouts: Gutters are channels that are installed along the edge of a roof to collect rainwater and direct it to the downspouts. Downspouts are the vertical pipes that take the rainwater from the gutters and direct it away from the foundation of your home. Without gutters and downspouts, rainwater can run off the roof and seep into the ground around your home, causing soil erosion, foundation damage, and basement flooding.
- Check your gutters: regularly Regularly checking your gutters is essential to make sure they are functioning properly. Gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, preventing rainwater from flowing freely. When gutters are clogged, rainwater can overflow, causing damage to the roof, fascia, and soffits. Cleaning gutters can be a difficult and dangerous job, so it is recommended that you hire a professional to do this for you.
- Extend downspouts: The purpose of downspouts is to direct rainwater away from the foundation of your home. If your downspouts are too short, they may not be doing their job effectively. You can extend your downspouts to make sure the water is directed at least 6 feet away from your home. This will help prevent water from pooling around the foundation, which can cause structural damage and basement flooding.
- Install splash blocks: Splash blocks are concrete or plastic blocks that are placed at the end of downspouts to direct rainwater away from the foundation of your home. They help prevent erosion and water damage to your home’s foundation. Splash blocks should be placed at least 6 feet away from the foundation to ensure that water is directed away from the house.
- Grade your yard away from your home: The ground around your home should slope away from the foundation to help prevent water from pooling near the house. If the ground around your home is not sloped correctly, you may need to re-grade your yard. This involves adding soil to the low areas and smoothing out the high areas to create a gentle slope away from your home.
- Use landscaping to divert water: Landscaping can be used to divert rainwater away from your home. You can plant trees and shrubs in strategic locations to help absorb excess water. Installing a rain garden is another way to divert rainwater away from your home. A rain garden is a landscaped area that is designed to absorb rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces.
In conclusion, keeping rainwater away from your home is an important aspect of home maintenance. By installing gutters and downspouts, checking your gutters regularly, extending downspouts, installing splash blocks, grading your yard away from your home, and using landscaping to divert water, you can help prevent water damage and protect your home. If you are unsure about how to properly direct rainwater away from your home, it is best to consult with a professional who can advise you on the best course of action.