There are 3 main aspects of your gutter system, gutters which collect the water, leaders (or downspouts) that distribute the water and the area where the drained water ends up. Simple, yet many homeowners neglect the last and most important aspect. Let’s just think about this for a minute…you are really good at cleaning the gutters and downspouts but during a heavy rain the gutters overflow and may cause mild to extreme damage. Take a look at where all the water is going and where it ends up. The idea is to make sure the water ends up at least 7-10 feet away from the foundation of the house. There are 2 main ways to accomplish this.
1. Underground Downspout Drains
Downspouts are the part of the gutter system that works to get all the rain water off the roof to an area away from the home. If water is not redirected away from the foundation of the home, a lot of damage can be done to your yard, foundations or flower beds. It is recommended that the water be directed at least 7-10 feet away from the home. Because the water needs to go 7-10 feet away, a lot of people choose to have the water redirected underground so downspouts and extension pipes aren’t laying in the middle of their yard.
Under ground drain pipe damage, how to know they are not working and how to maintain
Under ground drain pipe damage, how to know they are not working and how to maintainUsually, underground drains are piped anywhere between 5-100 feet depending on the terrain and the preference of the homeowner. However, when a drain is placed underground it becomes susceptible to being damaged or clogged. Where the downspout connects to the underground drain is an important area to inspect frequently. Inspecting the connection from the downspout to the underground can help eliminate a problem later. How does the connector get damaged?
Many times the landscaper weed-wacking around the area may slowly weaken the coupling connecting the downspout to the underground.
The downspout is damaged and is not tight into the connection.
The underground is clogged and water is backing up constantly weakening the connection.
Here are a few reasons why a drain can get damaged or clogged.
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Drain crushed by vehicles or heavy equipment above ground
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Drain cut or busted near the underground entry point or the exit point is full of weeds and debris. The water cannot flow through if there are obstacles in the way.
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Drain damaged by roots growing or animals building nests in the underground.
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Underground drain maintenance needs to be done every couple of years. Call your local drain cleaner to snake or blow out the drains. Remember all year round debris is falling into the gutters and flowing through the underground drain. The larger the amount of water flowing through the downspouts and underground helps keep the drain flowing. If we do not have enough rain the debris will settle in the drain.