Not only is standing water in your yard a nuisance -
especially if you have children who enjoy playing in the yard - but this water can
also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes or the symptom of a severe plumbing
problem.
In addition, if this water tends to pool near your home's
foundation, then foundation damage can develop over time as the waterlogged
soil exerts more pressure on foundation walls than dry soil does. This pressure
can crack foundation walls and, eventually, water can seep through these
cracks, leading to basement flooding.
If one or more areas of your yard are frequently saturated
with water when the rest of your property is relatively dry, then you may
wonder what has caused this pooling water.
Learn about three possible causes of water pooling in a yard
and possible solutions.
1. Broken Main Home Water Supply Pipe
Every home has a main water supply pipe that connects the
home's plumbing system to the city main waterline. This pipe is underground and
often enters the home through a basement wall. If the standing water in your
yard is near this pipe, then that is a sign that this water supply pipe may
have sprung a leak.
Aside from standing water in your yard, other signs you may
have a broken home water supply pipe include a water bill that recently rose
dramatically, even though your family has not changed their water usage habits,
and sudden low water pressure in your home.
If you suspect you may have a broken main home water supply
pipe, contact a plumber who can inspect the pipe and then repair or replace the
pipe section(s) that have begun leaking.
2. Clogged or Damaged Driveway Catch Basin or Channel
Drainage System
Many homes have yard stormwater drainage systems of one or
more catch basin or channel drains that attach to an underground pipe network.
These systems direct rainwater away from the yard and into the city's main
stormwater drainage system.
If water pools around these drains when and after it rains,
then that is a sign that one or more of these drains may be clogged or one of
your drainage system pipes may have collapsed or developed a clog.
Many homeowners do not realize that yard catch basins and channel
drains need periodic cleaning to remove debris that accumulates in them. Lack
of proper cleaning can lead to blockages forming directly below drain grates or
this debris traveling through the drainage system pipes and clogging them. The
EPA recommends cleaning out basins when solid matter occupies about one-third
of basin capacity.
If you suspect your standing water is from a problem with
your yard drainage system, then a plumbing expert can clean your drain basins
and use a special camera to locate any clogged or collapsed pipes in your
underground pipe network. The plumber can then make drainage system repairs to
improve the flow of water from your yard into your city's main stormwater
drainage system.
3. Improper Lawn Grading
Ideally, all home lawns should be sloped. The highest point
of the slope should be near your home's foundation, and the lowest point of the
slope should be near the street or a storm sewer. This slight slope helps
direct rainwater away from your yard naturally.
However, many yards are not properly sloped, and improper
land grading increases the chance of water pooling in the yard after it
rains. While a yard can be re-sloped or re-graded, this an expensive, time-intensive
endeavor.
A better alternative is to install a yard drainage system.
To install this system, a plumber will locate low points of your yard where
rainwater tends to pool and install catch basins or channel drains in these
locations. The plumber will also install an underground network of pipes that
direct water from these drains to the street.
If water frequently pools in your yard, then realize that
this standing water can be from a variety of problems. Contact
the
plumbing experts at Peter Piper's Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Service for
home main water supply pipe repairs, yard drain cleaning, or drainage system
installation today.
