Introduction
Stop dealing with water problems in your home and yard by installing this in-ground drainage system. This is a permanent, long-term solution to your wet yard. These step-by-step instructions and how-to photos walk you through the DIY installation. This project requires a lot of digging, but you won't have to deal with drainage issues ever again.If you happen to be among the unlucky 60 percent of homeowners who have some type of water problem in their yard, you’ve got two options: Sell your house and buy one of the homes from the other 40 percent, or roll up your sleeves and deal with it.
Most wet yards can be drained effectively. It’s rare to have unsolvable water problems such as a low water table that pushes water up from below. If you’re in this sorry situation, however, consult a pro—it’s nearly impossible to fix unless you have a sump pump and a place to dump all that water.
In this article, we’ll familiarize you with the products available and show you a step-by-step method of getting rid of excess rainwater and draining it clear of the house. We can’t guarantee that a system like this will dry up all your water troubles, but it’ll definitely help.
Determine the Source of Your Water Problem
In most cases, it’s pretty obvious where the water is coming from. Often there’s a slope approaching the house, a depression in the yard that causes pooling, or excess roof water draining next to the foundation. You can take care of minor foundation drainage problems by making sure the soil slopes away from the house.
Also, properly installed gutters, with a well-directed downspout that empties clear of the foundation, can be very effective. If you’ve already zeroed in on those solutions and still need help, stick with this article.
Call Before You Dig
As with any yard project that requires digging, you must find where buried electrical, telephone and TV cables and gas piping are located. Call your local utilities or 811.
The location of underground wiring cables and pipe may influence the routing of your drainage plan. You may want to consider an alternate route or have the utility disconnected until the job is completed.
Now that you’re familiar with the basic parts, follow our step-by-step instructions.
