Why Having Proper Drainage For Your Yard Is Important!
Outdoor drainage systems are a necessary element of any yard. They allow the water to exit your yard, preventing flood damage to your house or pool. Water is required for the survival of most plants, and this requirement can be met with basic outdoor drain age systems. Yard drainage systems make plants happier, increase grass health, and even help to save water. Yard drainage preserves not just your property, but then also your family's health and safety. Standing water in your yard, moisture in your basements, and erosion are all important issues that should be handled as soon as possible for the sake of your property and your family's well-being.
What is a Drainage System?
Outdoor drainage systems are systems or designs made up to collect water from one area and divert it to another area away from the house. The main goal is to get as much water as possible away from the unwanted areas so that you don't have standing water. This can be done by using several different methods that are a lot of the times, used together.
Types of Drainage Systems
There are numerous yard drainage methods from which to pick. They are all working around the clock to keep your home dry, but understanding a little bit about them can be quite useful when it comes time to make that decision for your home.
Surface Drainage
Subsurface Drainage / Slope Drainage
Roof Loading Systems
Surface Drainage
The most popular method of dealing with excess rainfall is to install surface drainage systems in the yard. There are two types of surface outdoor drainage systems: open ditches and piped channels. Ditches or channels are the best example as they use gravity or pumps to drain water from paved surfaces such as streets, parking lots, and driveways into natural waterways. Piped channels are basically a conduit that runs along or under a street and is lined with pipes beneath the pavement to redirect storm water away from the foundation or garage of a property.
Subsurface Drainage
Subsurface drainage systems also known as French drains, is a system used to collect water in the area that is pooling and then transferring it underground through drainage pipes to the appropriate area(s). Many times when French drains are installed, they are connected to downspouts from the gutters and transferred underground to an area away from the house. Water can be collected through perforated pipes, catch basins or gutter downspouts. Theses type of systems rely on gravity to transfer the water, but if there isn't enough slope, sump pumps can be used to pump the water to the desired area.
Roof Loading Systems
Roof load systems remove water from the roof. Water is collected and guided into another place, such as a gutter system, by being diverted, scattered, or directed. Most people think the gutters are enough, but in most cases, they won't fix all your drainage issues. There is a lot of water that travels through your gutters since the water is being collected from your entire roof. With that being said, you will have a lot of water coming down you down spouts at a very fast rate which leads to pooling or flooding in some cases. You can connect your down spouts to a French drain system and have all of the water diverted to an area that is more desirable.
The Importance of Drainage for Your Yard
Reduces Soil Erosion - Soil erosion is a serious environmental issue, particularly in locations where the ground is prone to wind and water erosion. The greatest strategy to minimize soil erosion is to keep your yard's outside drainage systems in good working order. Drainage systems can be as simple as a few holes in the ground or as complicated as an underground pipe system with pumps and pipes.
Reduces Standing Water - Standing water can cause a variety of issues in your yard, including mosquito breeding grounds, breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects, and ugly stains on the surface of your lawn. Standing water also draws pests like rats and mice. Water evaporates, sucking nutrients from the soil and depleting your lawn. In most cases, a well-designed outdoor drainage system successfully minimizes standing water and its related problems while also lowering the amount of water used to maintain your landscaping.
Protects Against Water Damage - Water damage is a major issue. It can develop mold and mildew, which can cause a variety of health problems. However, water damage poses a financial danger; if your home's foundation is destroyed, you could face thousands of dollars in repairs. By getting excess water off your lawn and away from your foundation, an outdoor drainage system can assist prevent these issues. With a drainage system, you'll never have to deal with an ugly puddle in your yard or having to replace your floors or walls due to water damage.
Avoid Bug and Termite Damage - You've likely heard that insects and termite prefer moist conditions. While they do thrive in damp environments, your yard can be a terrific place to live if you have suitable outdoor drainage systems in place. Yard drainage systems will assist keep water from pooling around your property and creating a breeding sites for bugs and termites. There is no area for water to collect and breed these pests if you have efficient outdoor drainage systems. You'll be able to keep them from entering your home, which means you'll be able to enjoy a pest-free environment without having to put in extra work to maintain it clean or treat bugs on a regular basis.