Drainage Problems
Start with what you're seeing. Each guide explains the possible causes, the checks you can do safely, and the solutions a drainage professional may recommend.
Standing water and soggy yards
Standing Water in Yard
Standing water usually comes from a low spot, slow-draining soil, concentrated roof or neighbor runoff, or a drain…
Find the Cause →Standing Water After Rain
Water that clears within a few hours after rain is usually not a serious drainage problem. Water that remains…
Find the Cause →Standing Water Beside House
Standing water beside a house is usually caused by downspouts discharging into a narrow side yard, ground that slopes…
Find the Cause →Yard Stays Wet for Days
When a yard stays wet for days, the soil is staying saturated. Common causes are heavy clay or compacted soil, a flat…
Find the Cause →Soggy Backyard
A soggy backyard is usually caused by a flat or enclosed yard, clay or compacted soil, roof runoff from the back of…
Find the Cause →Muddy Backyard
Mud forms when soil stays wet and bare. The usual causes are poor drainage (low spots, clay soil, roof runoff), heavy…
Diagnose It →Low Spot Holding Water
A low spot holds water because it's lower than the ground around it and has no exit. It is often caused by soil…
Find the Cause →Yard flooding
Backyard Flooding
Backyard flooding usually happens because the yard has no exit for storm water. Roof and patio runoff, neighbors'…
Diagnose It →Front Yard Flooding
Front yard flooding usually comes from downspouts, the driveway and the walkway draining into the lawn, beds or…
Diagnose It →Yard Floods Every Time It Rains
A yard that floods every time it rains usually has no working outlet, slopes toward a low area, or receives…
Diagnose It →Water Flowing From Neighbor's Property
Neighbor runoff usually happens because the neighbor's lot is higher, the neighbor's downspouts or grading send water…
Find the Cause →Yard Slopes Toward House
When a yard slopes toward the house, water runs to the foundation. The fix is to correct the grade so the soil falls…
Explore Solutions →Foundation, garage and house
Water Pooling Near Foundation
Water pools near the foundation when the soil slopes toward the house, downspouts discharge too close, beds and edging…
Find the Cause →Soil Washing Away From Foundation
Soil washes away from the foundation when concentrated water hits the ground, usually from roof valleys, missing…
Diagnose It →Water Entering Garage
Water enters a garage when the driveway slopes toward the door, the driveway has settled, downspouts discharge onto…
Find the Cause →Water Entering House
Rainwater enters a house when exterior water is pushed against or above the slab, door thresholds or weep holes…
Find the Cause →Driveways and patios
Driveway Flooding
Driveway flooding happens when water flows onto or along the driveway faster than it can reach the street, or collects…
Explore Solutions →Patio Flooding
Patio flooding is usually caused by a patio sloped toward the house or with no slope, roof and patio-cover runoff, a…
Explore Solutions →Gutters, downspouts and roof runoff
Downspout Causing Flooding
Downspouts cause flooding when they discharge too close to the house, onto flat or enclosed ground, or into buried…
Explore Solutions →Underground Downspout Clogged
A clogged underground downspout usually has leaves, shingle grit or silt in the pipe, roots growing in, a crushed or…
Troubleshoot →Roof Runoff Causing Erosion
Roof runoff causes erosion when water drops from roof edges without gutters, overflows clogged gutters, or discharges…
Diagnose It →Erosion
Existing drainage systems
French Drain Not Working
A French drain stops working when the pipe or gravel clogs with silt or roots, the outlet is buried or blocked, the…
Troubleshoot →Catch Basin Overflowing
A catch basin overflows when its outlet pipe is clogged with debris or roots, the outlet is buried, the pipe is…
Troubleshoot →Pop-Up Emitter Not Working
A pop-up emitter fails to open when the line is clogged, the emitter is buried under soil or sod, the cap is stuck or…
Troubleshoot →Not Sure What's Wrong?
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Get a Drainage Evaluation
Tell us what you're seeing and add photos if you can. A qualified drainage professional who serves your area can follow up to schedule an onsite evaluation.