Water and Lot Drainage

If your sump pump is running continuously, check these Four Key Problem Areas.

Eavestroughs & Downspouts

Eavestroughs that leak or haven’t been cleaned, as well as downspout outlets too close to the house will cause water to pool around the foundation. Check your eavestroughs and downspouts when it’s raining.

Lot Grading

The slope from the basement should be a 10% grade within 1.5 metres from the foundation and the remaining property should drain at a minimum 2% grade to the front or back of the lot.

Basement Walls and Floor

Cracks and repairs and openings in basement walls, floors or window wells may allow water to enter.

Flood-Proofing Devices

A sump pump and sewer backwater valve should be installed to keep rainwater and sewage from backing up into basements.

Check the Foundation All Around Your Home

Excess water pooling or ponding near the foundation of a house can result in water seeping down basement walls to the weeping tile below.
Over saturation of this area can cause water to enter into the basement, and the sump pump will run more often than necessary.
In extreme storms, infiltration into the sanitary system may cause sewage backup.

Ensure all water sources are diverted away from your home.

Use the following list to check for water infiltration:

• Rain Barrels
• Eavestroughs
• Downspouts
• Lot Grading
• Weeping Tile

Often referred to as gutters, a properly installed and optimally-working eavestrough system carries run-off water from the roof via the gutters to the downspouts, which in turn direct that water away from the foundation of the home. The system is designed to protect your home from costly damage and water leakage and saturation around the house foundation or into your basement. If you have any concerns, it’s certainly best to address the situation sooner rather than later. A simple gutter cleaning or minor repair could make all the difference. Many homeowners are capable of maintaining their homes gutter system, but there are also companies offering this type of service for your convenience.

Cleaning Out Debris

Many experts recommend gutter cleaning at least twice a year– once in the late spring and once in the late summer/early fall. But there are a few factors that might make you reconsider. If you have pine trees growing above your house, consider inspecting your gutters every 3 months. Without regular gutter cleaning, it will become full of debris making it hard for the rain to go down and that causes your gutters to back up and overflow, which can cause damage to your home.
Debris filled gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents, mold and honeycombs from bee infestations. If you let gutter cleaning go by the wayside, it can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Extend the Flow

If your downspout doesn’t empty into an underground drain, attach a few feet of extra downspout to an elbow at the bottom of the downspout to carry the runoff away from the foundation.

Repair Small Patches

During your seasonal gutter cleaning, you should also be inspecting your gutters for damage. If a gutter section is rusty and leaky, replace it. But if there’s just one bad spot, the few minutes it takes to patch it is time well spent. Just clean and dry the area of the leak. Make sure to do this type of repair in dry weather for best results.

Most gutter leaks occur at the joints where two sections meet.

Use Splash Blocks

Use splash blocks to direct water flow away from your home and over a larger area. This will decrease the chance of soil erosion. Ensure that eavestroughs are flowing onto your property and not that of your neighbours!