Drainage services help prevent home flooding by removing rain, melting snow, and other liquids from the drainage system.

Water that doesn’t drain correctly can cause foundation issues and damage a property’s exterior and structures.

There are many ways to improve drainage on your property. These solutions include French drains, sump pumps, dry river beds, and pop-up emitters.

French Drains

French drains are a cost-effective way to eliminate water pooling in your yard. They also help protect your home and prevent damage to your foundation, trees, lawn, or basement.

A French drain system is a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that creates a path for excess water to move away from a location. This solution is widely used to improve crop field drainage, reduce ground saturation and protect housing foundations.

To install a French drain, dig a trench that slopes down at least 1 percent. Then pour and compact about 3 inches of gravel or landscaping stone in the bottom of the trench.

Sump Pumps

Sump pumps are a necessary part of preventing basement flooding. They help transport excess water out of a basement and to avoid moisture problems that can result in mold growth, mildew, and other health issues.

They’re also helpful in removing wastewater and are often used in industrial plants, construction sites, mines, power plants, military installations, and transportation facilities. They’re usually plugged into a receptacle and powered by electricity or water.

A switch senses water levels and pressure, activating a motor to pump the water into a discharge pipe. The discharge pipe exits to a suitable drainage location, such as a dry well, municipal sewer line, or a natural runoff point.

Furthermore, septic services include plumbing fixtures that drain into a septic tank where microorganisms break down organic waste and drainage is poor.

Dry River Beds

Dry river beds are used for a variety of landscape purposes. They are often installed to help solve drainage issues and add interest to a yard.

They are also helpful in reducing erosion and redirecting water runoff. They can be a great addition to your yard and are easy to install.

A dry creek bed is a trench or gully lined with stones and pebbles miming a natural riparian area. It is surrounded by vegetation and often decorated with logs, branches, or clay pots.

A dry creek bed helps slow the heavy water flow during rainfall or when a slope fails to drain correctly. It also helps prevent erosion by lining the swale with large chunks of stone substantial enough to withstand stormwater.

Pop-Up Emitters

Unlike traditional drain grates, pop-up emitters allow water to be diverted away from your foundation. They connect to downspouts, channel runoff through a flexible tube underground, then “pop up” when water pressure builds enough to disperse the runoff over a larger surface area.

They are a clean-looking alternative to standard drain grates and are spring-loaded to close during dry weather automatically, keeping debris and pests out of your drainage system. They can be installed on either side of your yard or at the edge of your property.

Installing these drain emitters is relatively easy, though you do need to dig a trench first. The trench should extend from the end of your downspout to a point in your yard where you want to direct water.