Keeping your home’s drainage system working properly is vital as a homeowner in Sonoma County. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to deal with leaks, mold, and serious foundational problems. This article will explore five common causes of home drainage issues.

5 Causes of Home Drainage Issues

  • Yard Slopes: Some homes in Sonoma County rest on slopes. While these can help with turning water away from your living space, if there isn’t correct drainage at the bottom of the slope, it can cause the water to puddle because it has no place to go.
  • Roots: Plant roots can result in huge home drainage issues. While a few near pipes won’t usually be an issue, if you have numerous shrubs or large trees around your drainage system, their roots can push into the pipes causing leaks and obstructions.
  • Full Gutters: Another major thing that can cause home drainage issues is full gutters. If gutters are filled with leaves, rocks, or dirt, it can cause a water backup. Eventually, the sitting water will fall over the gutter’s sides draining into the soil around your home or through small holes and crevices in your roof.
  • Foundational Cracks: Foundational cracks can invite water to seep into your home. Even the smallest crack can cause a variety of different issues to form, including floods and mold.
  • Clay Soil: Clay soil is composed of small pores rather than large ones which can make it difficult for it to release water. If the land around your living space is covered in it, this can lead to significant drainage issues. To reduce the amount of clay soil you can do a handful of things. One is to add organic materials, like compost, which will filter through the soil to help it breathe. Eventually, this will encourage water stuck inside the clay to drain. Another way to lessen clay soil is to aerate it. This will poke large holes into the ground to prevent compaction while also inviting beneficial microorganisms to live in the soil.

If you want to make sure to keep your home’s drainage system functioning correctly, be sure to keep this information in mind. Homeowners who are concerned that they might have some drainage issues or just want to prevent them from happening should contact Redwood Sewer & Drain. We’ll send a team out to inspect the problem and who will find ways to quickly fix any issue that might be discovered.