Drainage Solutions Archive

5 Signs of Drainage Problems

Flooding in your yard can happen spring, summer, and even fall in Wisconsin. As long as there is rain flooding has an opportunity to occur. Flooding happens as a result of drainage problems. Central Services, an expert in landscaping and grounds maintenance, helps resolve any drainage problems you might have. Here are 5 signs you might notice around your home hinting that you need drainage correction.

Water Ponding

Yes, this may be an obvious sign of drainage problems in your yard, but if you notice water ponding occurring, don’t put off addressing it. Hoping that the water will find other areas in the ground to be absorbed or that it’ll evaporate could lead to other damage on your property.

Wet Garages

You may think a little wetness in your garage after it rains is no big deal, even normal. But depending on where the wetness is coming from it may be pointing to a bigger issue, like a drainage problem. Especially if you have a driveway that slopes towards the garage, a trench drain will help save you a lot of trouble and water damage.

Damp Basements

A damp basement may not be the worst thing, but if you’re like most you store belonging in the basement. Having them exposed to moisture may cause mold as well as other damage. More than that, a damp basement may be a precursor to flooding in your basement. Make sure that doesn’t happen by being proactive and save yourself a lot of hassle and costs.

Foundation Damage

Foundation damage can be caused by a number of things but water is definitely one of them. Rainwater that doesn’t flow away from your home can cause foundation damage. Foundation damage isn’t always immediately obvious either. Look for things like gaps between exterior windows and walls, musty smells, and any cracks in the walls or floors. Hopefully, these things aren’t what tips you off to foundation damage, but if they are caught early they can be repaired before they get worse and you can look for the cause.

Loss of Plant Life

Many factors can contribute to a loss in plant life. One is them being oversaturated by water pooling too much in one area. If you notice plant life dying in just one spot, a drainage issue might be the culprit.

Contact Us

If you see any of these problems, you may need drainage correction that will repair landscaping drainage elements so that they properly drain rain and other water sources away from problem areas. Central Services can repair many types of landscaping drainage systems, including French drains, sump pumps, surface drainage, and dry creek river beds. Contact us today if you think you may need help correcting a drainage problem and we’d be glad to assist you.

Flooded Backyard in Milwaukee? These Drainage Solutions Can Help

Puddles in the backyard may be fun for the kids, but for homeowners they can spell foundation nightmares. If your backyard floods every time it rains, it may be time to call in a good landscaper.

Professional landscapers do a lot more than plant flowers and mow grass. They can assess water drainage issues and install drainage solutions. They’ll have to take it on a case to case basis, though, because what’s right for your Milwaukee yard flooding issue might not be right for anyone else.

Before you find a landscaper to assess your personalized solution, however, read the quick fixes below.

happy girl playing in puddle in backyard

Curtain Drain

What’s the first solution that comes to mind when you think of draining water? A pipe.

That’s exactly what the curtain drain method uses. This method consists of setting a pipe into the ground and running water from your property to the main drain (like a street storm drain). Because the pipe is perforated, it helps collect water from the soil. It then uses gravity and your yard’s natural grade to run the water off.

There’s one caveat though: To use this method, your property needs to be higher than the surrounding lots or the closest road.

A Dry Well

If you’re on low land but don’t want to spend sump pump money, try this solution.

A dry well is an in-yard well that stays dry until excess rain fills it up. A dry well is usually dug in the lowest part of the yard for maximum impact and doesn’t take much (if any) hardware.

Once the well is dug, a landscaper will fill it with gravel to mimic a natural draining system. As the water fills the well, the rocks keep things from getting muddy. The well then empties into the surrounding soil, dispersing the moisture into deeper soil levels than a regular drain.

A Sump Pump

If you have a couple of hundred dollars to spare and extra electricity, invest in a sump pump. These machines collect excess runoff and pump it away. And, the runoff plumbing can deposit excess water wherever you want, even uphill.

Since sump pumps are an investment, talk to a professional landscaper before you take the plunge. They’ll be able to assess the intensity of the problem and give you ideas on the where and how of installation.

Most landscapers will even install it for you! The best way to see if any landscapers in your area do so is to ask for a free quote and let them know what you’re thinking.

Community-Wide Action

If you’re having an unusually wet season or have a low-lying yard, drainage issues are typical. But if they seem to persist or you hear other neighbors talking about them, it may be a bigger deal.

Talk to your landscaper and ask if they see any large-scale problems in the area. If they do, ask for their advice and take your concerns to the HOA.

If you don’t have an HOA or they can’t do anything about it, contact your local government. If municipal engineers are to blame for drainage problems, it may be your city’s legal duty to fix it.

Picking Drainage Solutions

Knowing which yard drainage solution is right for your home is difficult. It takes many small details into consideration than you’ve probably considered.

If you need assistance, one of our landscapers can find the perfect fit for you. Get in contact today and change your back-swamp into your backyard!