Fixing Drainage Problems
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-542 -- More Projects »
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Sometimes the only remedy for a drainage problem is an underground drainage system like this.
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Handyman Darcy Westlind explains how to make sure a home has adequate exterior drainage.
- Check the slope of a lawn to determine where the water is running when it rains. To find out the slope of a lawn, stick two stakes in the yard, about three feet apart. Run a string between the stakes and slide a plumb bob (a usually conical metal weight attached to the end of a plumb line) down the line. This will help determine the degree of slope in the yard.
Use clear, flexible plastic tubing to determine the slope of the yard (figure A). Take about a 10-foot length of 3/8-inch diameter tubing and fill it with colored water. Unroll across the arc of the yard that has drainage issues. While a friend holds one end up, measure how far above the ground the water levels are at the other end. Now measure the end that the friend is holding.Make a folding drain spout that drains water away from the foundation of the house yet does not present an obstacle when mowing.
Use a pair of metal snips to cut away one side of a length of drain. Slide onto the downspout with the cut side up (figure B). Attach the drain on each side with screws and fold it up against the downspout when mowing (figure C).Use a downspout splashguard to protect the lawn from eroding underneath the downspout. Large, flat surfaces such as garage floors or cement patios do not lend themselves to being raised. If water tends to collect and stand in such areas, dig an underground trench to drain water away.
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