- Grading. Grading will help to channel water away from the building. Irrigation sprinklers should be pointed away from foundation walls.
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Drainage Devices. Surface water should not be allowed to pond near the foundation. Damage to the concrete, settlement and mold are some of the potential problems that arise from buildings with poor drainage.
In addition to functional gutters and downspouts, some of the ways to direct water away from the building foundation are the installation of area drains, catch basins or trench drains. These are simple, inexpensive ways to solve your surface drainage problems.
- French Drains. French drains are used to attract, collect and divert underground water away from areas which could be damaged by the presence of water.
A typical French Drain is constructed by: Excavating a trench strategically placed and filling trench with ¾" gravel around a centered 3" PVC perforated pipe. Additionally, all gravel is to be wrapped with "Soil Separator" fabric to prevent soil particle accumulation in French Drain. French drains are also used behind retaining walls to relieve ground water pressure.
- Sump Pumps. A sump pump may be homeowners' first line of defense against water accumulation at areas such as a basement or crawlspace where it can cause damage. The pumps come in two basic models: upright, commonly called pedestal, and submersible.
The pedestal model has the motor on top and the pump at the base, which sits on the bottom of the sump. The motor should not get wet. A ball float turns the pump on and off.
Submersible pumps are designed to be submerged in water and sit on the bottom of the sump. The on/off switch, which is attached to the pump, can be a ball float connected to an internal pressure switch or a sealed, adjustable mercury-activated float switch. The sealed mercury switch generally is more reliable than the pressure switch.
Either type of pump should have a check valve on the water outlet pipe so the water doesn't flow back into the sump when the pump shuts off. Water flowing back into the sump from the discharge pipe can cause the pump to turn on and off more often than necessary, which can cause the pump to wear out faster. It is important that the sump pump be properly sized to prevent "short-cycling" or premature pump failure.
Drainage Devices. Surface water should not be allowed to pond near the foundation. Damage to the concrete, settlement and mold are some of the potential problems that arise from buildings with poor drainage. In addition to functional gutters and downspouts, some of the ways to direct water away from the building foundation are the installation of area drains, catch basins or trench drains. These are simple, inexpensive ways to solve your surface drainage problems.
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