Controlling Your Downspouts Discharge

Standing water in a lawn

To keep your basement dry, the first thing you need to do is control rainwater runoff. The most common source of rainwater is the water which comes from our roofs. This water can come in very large volumes and create a massive flow of water around your foundation. A two-inch rain is equal to almost 2,000 gallons of water from a 30′ X 50′ residential roof. If this 2,000 gallons of water is not directed away from your foundation, it can cause cracking and flooding inside the home.

Drain Water Away From Your Home

Directing your downspouts directly into a drain pipe is a fairly common and simple solution to controlling rainwater runoff. This is as simple as digging a trench and laying a solid drain pipe inside this trench and directing it at least 10’ away from the foundation. The outlet can be a simple emitter or drain grate. This type of system is very common and it can be very efficient. The downsides to a direct connection system are clogging or freezing.

A Catch Basin Can Help With Runoff

Flooded water in a yard

Another very effective method of controlling downspout discharge is the use of a catch basin. The catch basin is placed directly below the downspout outlet and serves as a collection point which transfers the water to a solid drain pipe and then to an emitter or grate.

One benefit of a catch basin is its ability to collect pooling surface water. If your soil is not adequately sloped away from the foundation, the catch basin can collect some of this surface water and drain it away just as it does with the rainwater from the roof.

Catch basins come in a variety of sizes which should be taken into consideration when designing your system. This is best done by a water management expert or landscape architect/engineer. The key is to collect storm water runoff and direct it away from the foundation. Remember, the goal is to protect your home from flooding and foundation damage.