Guides
Sump pump and drainage guides
Moving water away from the house before it reaches the walls, and pumping out what gets in anyway: grading, downspouts, French drains and sump pumps.
Drainage
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Start here
Yard grading: how to slope the ground away from your foundation
Yard grading basics: how much the ground should slope away from your house, how to check it with stakes and string, and which fixes to try first.
Read the guide: Yard grading: how to slope the ground away from your foundation -
Downspout drainage: how far, how to extend it and when to bury it
Downspout drainage: how far to carry roof water from your house, when to use an extension, splash block or buried line, and why gutters overflow.
Read the guide: Downspout drainage: how far, how to extend it and when to bury it -
What is a French drain? How it works and when it helps
What is a French drain? A gravel trench with a perforated pipe that gives water an easier path. When it helps, where the water goes and why it clogs.
Read the guide: What is a French drain? How it works and when it helps
Sump pumps
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Start here
Sump pumps: what they do and whether you need one
A sump pump moves groundwater out of a pit and away from your house. See how the system works, when you need one and where the water should go.
Read the guide: Sump pumps: what they do and whether you need one -
Sump pump not working? Troubleshooting by symptom
Sump pump not working, running nonstop or cycling? Check power, the float switch, the check valve and the discharge line, in a safe order.
Read the guide: Sump pump not working? Troubleshooting by symptom -
Sump pump battery backup, water-powered pumps and alarms
How long a sump pump battery backup lasts, when a water-powered backup works, and why a high-water alarm alone doesn’t pump water.
Read the guide: Sump pump battery backup, water-powered pumps and alarms
