As part of your regular home maintenance, it is important to check your property’s drainage system and clear out gutters. Poor water drainage and uncontrolled water flow creates landscape erosion and can also damage your foundation walls. This inadequate drainage and flow may be caused by:
- Clogged gutters.
- Undersized gutters.
- Clogged downspouts and sump pump pipes.
- Poor grading around foundation walls.
A 5% grade is ideal for your property for a distance of 10 feet around your home. It is important to fill in any depressed areas that form near the downspout to prevent clogging and water damage.
Gutter Protection via Gutter Leaf Guard
If your gutters are constantly overflowing, consider gutter replacement. The Gutter Helmet® system can help you proactively prevent landscape erosion caused by clogged and overflowing gutters.
Among all the companies offering gutter protection, Gutter Helmet consistently ranks as the top choice among homeowners in gutter guard reviews. Gutter Helmet features state-of-the-art technology with its S-curve design that directs water flow off the roof and down into the gutters, through the downspout and on to the ground safely away from the home and foundation. There are many choices available today including gutter leaf guard, filters and more. Gutter Helmet’s design is durable, offers protection year-round and is backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Preventive Planning
Fixing drainage problems requires planning to proactively identify and then solve any water drainage problems in and around the property. Having a preventive plan for maintenance is the best course to take to prevent damage and excessive repairs.
Here are some steps to take:
- Look for erosion.
Where has erosion occurred around your home? For example, if you see gravel or soil streaming around the garden, yard or other areas, this is typically a sign of water flow problems.
- Check for waterfalls.
Is water rushing down the sides of your home’s gutters? Excessive water flow happens when gutters get clogged with debris or leaves. This can even create erosion right under the gutters and damage the foundation of your home by seeping in through the basement.
- Clean out gutters.
Gutters should be cleaned out at least twice each year. You can also install a high-quality gutter guard system like Gutter Helmet that makes maintenance easy and prevents clogging from happening in the first place.
- Control runoff.
When there is a heavy storm, water runoff from the roof can fill your yard and even cause damage to your home. You will need to redirect this water or contain it. You can use a catch basin or a French drain to hold the water or add a downspout extension to redirect the water.
- Remove wetness.
Erosion caused by improper grading leads to wet areas that last for several days. This can lead to problems such as compacted soil or high groundwater. You may be able to solve the problem by adding organic material. If the problem is more extensive, you may need to add underground drainage.
Landscape erosion is a problem that should be dealt with immediately to prevent further damage and small problems from escalating into larger ones. Gutter Helmet can help you by installing a high-quality gutter guard system that you can use for many years and safeguards your home from water damage and landscape erosion. Call us at (800) 824-3772 for more information and to request a free quote.
