Unfortunately, this creates the perfect storm for flood weather. But wait – there’s also some good news because you’re not completely helpless. There are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure your yard and basement don’t spend this April drowning in showers.

Grade Your Yard

To avoid incoming water, the ground should always slope away from your home. To achieve this, you’ll need to understand the high and low points of your home, and use extra dirt to slope accordingly.

Add Mulch

Fill garden areas graded away from your home with a few inches of mulch to help keep soil in place for when it rains. If mulching near your home, make sure the mulch is at least six inches from your siding to avoid creating an environment that can develop into rot.

Plant Grass

The root structure of grass can help absorb water. Once it grows in, avoid cutting your lawn too short, as it weakens the roots and can lead to flooding in your yard, and possibly your home.

Make Sure Downspouts Are Turned Away From Your Home

This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Be sure to direct your downspouts toward lawn areas that are graded away from your home so that the water does not simply flow back toward your outside walls and sit.

Install A Sump Pump

Finally, you may want to put a little money into prevention. In the long run, it’s cheaper than the alternative. For all you sump pump newbies, it acts like a big floor drain, sucking any water out of your basement or out of the surrounding foundation and redirecting it elsewhere out of harm’s way.

If you have a question about how you can help prevent your yard or basement from flooding, call your Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.

But fear not, should sewage issues ever befall you, diagnosing what went wrong usually comes down to one of three things.

Tree Roots
It’s amazing how determined some tree roots can be. Some roots can extend two to four times out from the diameter of the crown and penetrate the smallest of sewer line cracks. But there’s a reason for this. Wastewater is actually nutritious for roots, so they’re drawn to it. And when tree roots bust through pipes, chaos is sure to follow. If your property has an abundance of trees and you suspect your plumbing issues are from their root system, a plumber will need to perform an inspection to ensure the pipes aren’t damaged.

All Clogged Up
There’s a simple rule to follow: if what you’re flushing doesn’t completely dissolve in water, then it probably shouldn’t be flushed, as such items will eventually accumulate and create a clog. Some common items to avoid flushing include cat litter, hair, diapers, floss and other hygiene products. Be careful, even if it’s labeled as “safe to flush,” it can still pose a hazard to your plumbing system.

Broken Pipe
Increased pressure, soil shifts and freezing weather can all affect a pipeline’s integrity and create a break in the pipe. Similarly, corrosion and seals between your pipes can also become damaged, which results in water filtering out into the ground around it. If this happens, you’ll have some pretty obvious clues. Just look for mystery puddles of water that appear. They will also carry a strong, unpleasant odor around your property. Just to be safe, it’s a good idea to have your septic system inspected every three years to ensure your pipes are in good shape.

If you have any other questions about sewer line issues, call your local Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.