Taking Care of Your Water Drainage System

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By Murray Anderson

Once you have a gutter system installed and proper grading around your foundation, the work's not over yet. The following are some maintenance tips that will keep your gutters and drainage system in proper working order.

• Make sure the gutters are firmly attached. A loose or broken fastener can change the slope and prevent the water from draining out of the troughs.
  
  
• Sectional gutters need to have the seams resealed with caulk or a sealant specially designed for gutters.
  
  
• Gutters can plug up with leaves, seeds and even needles from nearby evergreens, so it's important that you keep them cleaned out. Use a hose or a pressure washer to clear them out at least once a year, or more if there are lots of trees.
  
  
• If you seem to be constantly cleaning your gutters, you might consider installing some form of a gutter guard to keep the bigger leaves out. Just be aware that any gutter guard system has to have some openings in it to let water in, so seeds and other organic material will also get into the troughs and will need to be cleaned out periodically.
  
  
• Since over time, soil will compact or wash away with the seasons, it's important to maintain the grade of your property. Adding some soil along your foundation and sloping it away will help keep water out of your basement.
  
  
• All the rain hitting your house doesn't just hit the roof, and some will run down the sides and into your window wells. Covers will keep this water out of the wells, and stop it from soaking into the ground right beside your foundation walls.

Sometimes it seems like a basement attracts water like a magnet attracts iron filings. Keeping your gutters and downspouts clear and making sure you maintain the grading in your yard will break up that magnetic attraction. Even more important, it will help keep your basement warm and dry.

< Back to Part 1: Guide to Home Drainage Systems

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Murray Anderson is an experienced freelance writer with articles published in both the United States and Canada. He has written on a wide range of topics, but specializes in home maintenance and how to's.

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