Water can damage your property, costing thousands of dollars to fix. You’ll need to correct the issue if you see standing water on your lawn or your basement leaks when it rains. The sooner you act, the better.
The best option is to install or improve your yard’s drainage systems. As a homeowner, you must understand what will work for your property and what won’t. Keep reading to learn more!
Understanding Yard Drainage Systems
You have plenty of options to consider regarding yard drainage systems. You’ll want to understand which will work best for your home. First, you’ll need to check where the water gathers after it rains. Does it pool in your yard somewhere or run into your basement?
Generally, standing water in your yard means landscaping issues, such as sloping into an area where water can’t escape. You can place a drainage system there to deal with it. If it’s leaking into your basement, you’ll want to redirect water away from your home and set up reliable drains, such as trench drains or a French drain.
Let’s cover some of these yard drainage systems in detail. These are the four central yard drainage systems you’ll want to know about:
1. Trench Drains
Trench drains are incredibly effective at moving water away from your home. You can place them in areas where water gathers in your yard. From there, the trench drain system collects and safely deposits water from your property elsewhere.
You won’t need to worry about water damage any longer. The system doesn’t take long to install, making it a quick, convenient process.
Plus, this drainage system works well in many different circumstances. It can deal with standing water and redirect water away from your home’s foundation.
Overall, it’s one of the best options for improving your yard drainage systems.
2. French Drains
French drains are a bit different. Instead of taking surface water and moving it away like a trench drain, these drains are underground and move water below the surface. This option is better when your yard can’t drain due to issues with your soil. However, trench drains work in more circumstances.
French drains collect water through a gravel layer. Then they redirect it away from your home, making them more suitable for when you have a leaking basement rather than standing water in your yard.
3. Catch Basins
Catch basins, sometimes called yard drains, gather surface water into a basin and guide it away from your yard. Generally, you’ll see them around the exit point of downspouts. If you’re having issues with standing water there, a catch basin is sure to help.
Catch basins can be part of your property’s much larger drainage system. You can still consider installing one even if you add another drain to your yard. They’re very effective and can catch large volumes of water.
4. Dry Wells
Lastly, you’ll want to consider dry wells since they’re an essential yard drainage system. You can also combine them with other drains to make them much more effective at removing water from your yard.
The dry well collects water that would otherwise build up on your property as it rains. They can also hold large amounts of water, so you shouldn’t worry much about overflow. The collected water slowly returns to the water table without flooding.
What Causes Yard Drainage Issues?
The leading cause of yard drainage issues is due to the landscape. Most of the time, yards with strong slopes cause water to run down the hill, where it can gather. Standing water can damage your home’s foundation and attract pests, so drain it as soon as possible.
Downspout and gutter problems can also cause your yard to flood. The gutter system’s primary function is to keep your home’s runoff water away from your yard. If it’s not working as intended, it can damage your property.
Compacted soil can also cause drainage problems. If the ground becomes too compacted, water can have trouble absorbing back into the earth, leading to standing water sitting on the surface. Most people deal with this issue by adding a reliable drainage system to their yard instead of trying to change all the soil on their property.
So, if you have one of those problems, you’ll want to fix it to avoid expensive water damage repair bills.
How To Fix Yard Drainage Issues
Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash
You’ll need to address the yard drainage issues head-on to fix them. That means installing a new drainage system where the problem occurs. You can use a trench drain to capture surface water or a French drain to manage underground water that enters your basement.
Once you have a reliable drainage system, you can consider adding a dry well or catch basin. These systems work well independently but are much more effective when part of a more extensive drainage system.
Occasionally, water that runs off your neighbor’s property can also be problematic if it sits in your yard. You can add a drain or dry well to where the water flows to deal with it. Your drainage systems mustn’t send water into your neighbors’ properties as well.
Why Standing Water in Your Yard is a Problem
Standing water is highly problematic for a few different reasons. It can kill your grass and other plants. Plus, it attracts mosquitoes you don’t want living in your yard. Most importantly, standing water is very harmful to the foundation of any home which is very costly to fix.
It can also be a sign that there’s something wrong with your current drainage systems or landscaping. No matter what, you’ll need to deal with the problem immediately.
Install a Yard Drainage System Today!
Many people don’t think about their yard drainage systems until there’s a huge problem. You’ll want to install a drainage system soon to prevent severe water damage. Many professionals are available to do the work for you, making it a convenient process for homeowners.
In short, reach out about installing a yard drainage system today! We’d be happy to assist you.
