Have you ever gotten worried looking at your roof and seeing water leaks? Blocked gutters and drainage cause such a situation. In addition, clogged drains can cause roof leakage and basement seepage, which could be an expensive repair job, especially if the property owner does not have insurance to cover such expenses. 

The heavy rainfall in Knoxville, TN, causes the basements and the crawl space under the floors of several houses in the area to flood. The water soaked into these spaces either lacked gutters or clogged gutters or without enough downspouts. Proper basement waterproofing and effective gutter maintenance are crucial to eliminating all of these water damage issues.

Taking proactive steps to maintain your drainage system and gutters will keep water flowing away from your home and reduce the risk of flooding in challenging weather. It also minimizes erosion to the foundation and landscaping, preventing costly damage. Gutters need maintenance to ensure they do their job of protecting foundations and draining rainwater away from buildings.

In what ways rain water lead to water damage?

In the absence of a gutter and drainage system, rainwater will hit the house’s roof, leading the water to fall on the ground. This will resultantly get accumulated in the foundation of the house. You might wonder how this can be dangerous if it’s just rainwater. The answer lies in the fact that if you get a foot of water on top of your foundation for just 30 days,  this results in a one-inch shift of the foundation. 

This pool of water around the foundation will penetrate the soil going under the ground. And when the land gets overflow holding the groundwater, this will enter your basements and crawl spaces through small cracks around the basement walls. Water damage affects the basement and crawlspace and the attic, ceiling, and divisions, leading to stains and mold growth due to increased moisture. 

Hence, proper installation of a gutter and drain system is required to avoid such damages and keep your home protected. Along with gutters and drains, waterproofing the basement is a must and the best season to opt for is winter. Due to the cold outside, water seeping in the foundation freezes and expands. The expansion makes water stains easily visible on the walls, which eases out identifying the cracks. 

Optimize the water management system

Before any significant repairs cost falls on you as a financial burden, take proper preventive measures such as arming your home with gutters and adequate water management essentials such as downspouts and sump pumps. In addition, there are specific components of an effective water management system. Some of them are penned down below:

  • Gutters allow water to be removed from the surface of a building in an efficient manner. They accomplish this by collecting the rainwater at the edge of a roof and carrying it away through a system of pipes or open channels. Generally, gutters exist near the base of roofs, and they help direct water to the sump pump.

 

  • No matter how impactful a gutter system you build, it remains incomplete without a downspout. Hence, an effective downspout leader installation will end the process of leading away water from the gutter into the drains or yards away from home. Drainage is another critical component of any building because it protects the walls, foundations, and basements from water damage, mold growth, and erosion.

 

  • A sump pump is a naturally constructed pit, which is usually a hole carved below the basement of your house. The naturally built pit is a basin that holds a sump pump. Sump Pump serves primary two purposes:

 

    • To collect rainwater and divert it away from the building’s foundations,
    • To act as a ‘first defense’ against rising dampness. 

 

  • The sump pump raises water from the pit to prevent flooding in your basement. Sump pumps are a solution for flooded basements, but they can only do their job if they are correctly attached to drainage lines. Thus along with sump pumps getting French drain installation is the most suitable option. It is the most economical drainage solution which allows the residential and commercial user to choose where they want to redirect the water. 

 

  • Installing a French drain is a good idea, however if you want all the above to run effectively then you need to hire the right experienced foundation repair contractors that will get you out of the dangers of the surface level water but also helps trap in any excess water that erodes the soil deep down the earth. 

Should You Opt for Installing a Proper Gutter and Drainage System?

After knowing the causes of water damage and how significant the role of Gutters and drainage systems is along with other water management components, your answer to the above question should be a firm YES. this is because a properly installed gutter and drainage system will:

  • Prevent soil erosion around your property,
  • Keep the potential ground hazards away,
  • Secure home foundation,
  • Keep the basement and crawl space dry,
  • Prevent the wood from decaying, etc.

Conclusion:

Hence, now that you know the importance of having gutters and drainage systems in your home, you should get them quickly. If you’re having problems with your gutter and drainage systems, get in touch with a professional for repairs and cleaning services so that they can keep the gutters and drainage system clear and functioning correctly.