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Ensure water is draining away from the home

Rainy day?

Let’s look at how water is moving around your house

One of the most important tasks as a homeowner is keeping water out and away from your home. Water that pools around your foundation may cause costly damage that costs thousands to repair.

Next rain you have, grab your rainboots and check these critical areas:

Rainy day? Grab your raincoat! Learn how to assess drainage around your home.

Gutter Downspouts

  • Make sure water flows easily from the gutter downspouts
  • Confirm water from downspouts travels at least 3 feet away from your foundation
  • ACTION: Add downspout extensions if water discharges too close to your home

Gutters

Check for water coming from the gutter body or seams:

  • Gutter body: Look for water escaping from cracks or holes
  • Gutter seams: Check for leaks around joints, end caps, and connecting pieces
  • Everywhere: Watch for water overflowing the top (a sign of clogging)
  • ACTION: Clean gutters that overflow; seal small leaks with gutter sealant; replace severely damaged sections. Check out our chapter on gutters if you need more help.

Overall Water Flow Around the House

  • Verify that rain moves consistently away from the house
  • Look for unusual water patterns or pooling around the foundation
  • ACTION: Address pooling areas with quick drainage solutions like French drains or dry wells.

After a Heavy Rain

Walk your property once the rain stops.

  • Note any areas with standing water, especially near the foundation
  • ACTION: Consider re-grading areas where water consistently pools

On a Beautiful Day, Check Your Slope

Your yard should have enough slope for water to flow away from your home’s foundation. Ideally, aim for a 5% slope—meaning the ground 10 feet away is about 6 inches lower than the ground at your foundation.

  • Tools Needed: Mallet, 2 wooden stakes, 12+ feet of nylon string (less likely to sag), Line level, Measuring tape

Measuring your slope

  1. Drive one stake next to your foundation and another 10 feet away
  2. Tie string between them, using the level to ensure it’s horizontal
  3. At each stake, measure the distance between the ground and the string
  4. Calculate: (Foundation height – 10 feet out height) ÷ Distance of string × 100 = % slope. Hate math? I made you a calculator: Find the Slope
  5. Repeat in different areas of your yard with noticeably different slopes.

Target: Aim for a minimum 3% slope away from your foundation, with 5% being ideal. To learn more, watch this video: How To Find Grade | Drainage And LandscapingBecome a Honey Badger Today!

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