How to Divert Water Away From Your House
Diverting water away from your home is important for many reasons. It eliminates foundation erosion, basement flooding and soil and grass deterioration. It is equally important to ensure proper drainage as well as where the water is being diverted.
Water can be diverted in many ways:
• Storm drains
• Swales
• Rain Gardens
• Dry wells
• Downspout extensions
Storm Drain
A safe option is tying your stream to an existing storm drain with the drain opening at the end of your driveways. The street’s gutters should be used to guide the stream into your sewer. Make sure the diverted water flows over a spot with low foot traffic.
Swales
Another option for diverting water is with the use of swales. Swales follow the contour around the base of a slope, channeling water from one place to another. Swales should carry water to a place where it can be released safely and a place with good drainage.
Small swales can carry gutter water from a house to a dry well and can be built by the homeowner. A larger swale could be around the base of a hill and it diverts the water around it. Larger swales should be created by a professional.
Rain Gardens
A rain garden is a destination for the water. Rain gardens allow water to pool during a downpour and then slowly percolate into the soil. Fast-draining soil allows water to sink in and promotes plant growth. Rain gardens are better than swales when a steeper slope is involved.
Dry Wells
Dry wells can be created at the end of a drain line by filling a hole with coarse gravel beneath a layer of topsoil. The diverted water will ideally end in an area of sandy soil with low foot traffic.
Downspout Extensions
The best way to divert water away is with a properly installed downspout extension. Downspout extensions are an add-on to your gutter system that allows water to fall to the ground in a controlled manner.
The placement of downspout extensions is important because the accumulation of water around the base of your home can cause costly damages to your basement, patio or structure of your home. If your downspout extensions become clogged they can cause serious damage to your home, soffit and fascia boards and structure damage.
Diverting Water Away from Your Home with LeafFilter
Utilizing an effective gutter protection system, like LeafFilter, will keep all leaves, debris, and shingle grit out of your gutters so that water is diverted properly away from your home. This will prevent costly damages that are associated with blocked gutters from occurring within your home. During the time of your installation, our professional installers with clean, realign and reseal your gutters before installing LeafFilter, to ensure they are properly pitched and performing effectively. To learn more, request a free gutter inspection and estimate from LeafFilter and one of our friendly customer service reps will reach out to you shortly!
