When it rains, this water should be routed off your property to storm water systems designed to handle the water. When snow melts, this water needs to be routed away from your home.
Problems with drainage around your home can lead to costly repairs to your home. Water infiltration can damage foundation walls, ruin your belongings damage appliances in your basement and cause health problems. Ponding water in your yard can put excessive pressure on your home’s foundation, provide fertile breeding grounds for dangerous mosquitos and damage landscaping.
Drainage Solutions
An experienced professional can save you money by providing a solution that works to solve your drainage issues. There are several solutions to drainage problems that can be used in multiple combinations to create drainage solutions for your home.
Grading – proper land sloping to direct water. Over time erosion, hidden underground piping or decomposing vegetation like tree stumps can lead to improper grading in your yard. Adding, removing or relocating soil may be need to create proper grading and drainage.
Foundation drains – perforated drains that are usually surrounded by gravel. These divert stormwater away from your home’s foundation. The pipes disperse the water instead of discharging it in a concentrated area. The gravel contributes to infiltration of the water.
Storm drainpipes – pipes used to carry rainwater to the City’s stormwater system.
Yard inlets – structures designed to capture debris that could clog the pipes in a storm drain system. They are connected to storm drainpipes.
Trench drains – a prefabricated or concrete trench which is usually covered with a grate that serves as both a drain and a collection point for run-off. They are used to capture stormwater flowing over a larger area like a driveway. Trench drains convey rainwater to the City’s storm drain system.
French drains – are constructed with a perforated pipe. Gravel and filter fabric surrounds the pipe, similar to foundation drain systems. These can be installed anywhere on your property that collects water.
Drywells – an underground structure that disposes of unwanted water runoff by dissipating it into the ground. These can be installed in areas that cannot be connected to a stormwater drainage system. Drywells are filled with gravel and surrounded by filter fabric. Water flows into the wells and infiltrates into the ground through the gravel.
Sewage Problems
A sewer drain issue is a very serious problem. Since the waste water has no place to go it will back up into the household plumbing. When you have a sewer drain issue you should not use any of the plumbing in the home until the stoppage is cleared.
Indications Of Sewage Drain Problems
Sewage flooding in your basement or backed up in to your yard is a clear indication of a sewer line problem.
Another obvious sign of a sewer drain issue is when more than one plumbing fixture backs up at the same time.
It is rare to have a main line sewer problem and the toilets are working correctly. If flushing the toilet results in water backing up or coming up into the tub or shower this is usually a clear sign of a sewer drain problem.
Run water in the sink closest to the toilet for a minute or so. If you can see the water level in the toilet rising or see air bubbles in the toilet then the issue is likely to be the main sewer line. This is caused by trapped air in the plumbing system.
Check to see if the water draining out of your washing machine causes the toilet to overflow or if the waste water backs up into the tub or shower. This can also be caused by damage to the sewer main.
Causes Of Sewer Line Problems
Blockage – Proper flow of the line is restricted or prohibited which is often caused by grease buildup or a foreign object.
Corrosion – The pipe has deteriorated, broken and/or collapsed which restricts flow.
Bellied pipe – A section of the pipe has sunk due to ground or soil conditions. This creates a low spot that collects paper and waste leading to blockage.
Leaking joints – The seals between pipes have broken which allows water to escape into the area surrounding the pipe.
Tree root infiltration – Roots from trees or shrubs have penetrated the sewer line causing damage to the line.
Shifting or settling soil – Sewer lines are broken, cracked, offset or collapsed. This is often emphasized by weather changes such as freezing and thawing.
Homeowner Responsibility
As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the portion of the sewer line that runs from your house to the main sewer. This means that if there is a blockage, clog, root infiltration or other backup in your sewer line, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to repair.
Unfortunately most basic homeowners insurance doesn’t cover repairs to sewer lines.
If the problem hasn’t been fixed when you sell the home you may have to disclose it to potential buyers.