Cleaning, repairing or maintaining property drainage pipes can be a bothersome task, especially for busy homeowners in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. However, preventive measures are strongly recommended to avoid problems down the road. Check out the helpful guide below for a cost-effective and worry-free drainage system.

Knowing the basics

The system that collects and drains rainwater and subsurface water from a property is called a drainage system, while sewers collect waste from toilets, sinks and showers. Drainage system pipes, trenches and catch basins should be kept clean as they are integral parts of property maintenance. Proper and timely maintenance of drainage systems in the San Francisco Bay Area is necessary to protect your home and land against flooding, water infiltration into living areas and under the house, and settlement of foundations. If your home is located at the base of a hill, water can come rushing down the slope in a storm and threaten your property. In the suburbs, drainage systems outlet to a designated spot on the property or to the street, while in San Francisco, drainage systems are hooked up to the same sewer system that takes away household waste. During the past decade, the prevailing thinking of how and where to collect rainwater and where to outlet it have changed. Now, the practice of collecting as much rainwater as possible from everywhere and then outleting it in a concentrated flow to the street or a stream is discouraged. Instead, water should be collected only where it threatens to infiltrate the living areas or crawl space of the house or to cause softening of the ground under the house foundation and subsequent settlement. The downspouts from the roof should be hooked into a drainage system and the areas around the perimeter of the foundation should either be sloped away from the house or have catch basins connected to a drainage system that collects the water. If the lawn and other areas get soggy, that’s ok, because the water will eventually seep down into the ground. The drainage system should outlet into a “rain garden”. A rain garden can be an area anywhere on the property where seasonal ponding of water is ok. The water will, over time, seep into the ground, recharging the ground water. This is now the preferred method for several reasons: it prevents the scouring of creek and streambeds that happens from concentrated loads of rainwater; the street drains are not overloaded; any contaminates that get into the water will seep into and be filtered out by the ground instead of ending up in waterways.

Identifying drainage problems

If you notice water is ponding at catch basins when it rains or downspouts appear to be clogged up or water is building up next to the foundation or in places that that used to drain, you have a problem. If it’s a catch basin, take off the grate and remove any debris and soil from the box. If it’s still not draining, stick a hose down the pipe connected to the box and try to wash the clog out. A downspout may be clogged up at the gutter: get a ladder and check your gutters, particularly where the downspout connects. Track down the reason why water is ponding in new areas near the foundation and try to figure out what has changed. If you have a concrete V-ditch on you property, make sure to keep it cleared of debris and free-flowing. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a plumber’s snake to clear clogged lines.

Leaving it to the experts

Property owners are responsible for keeping their drainage lines and systems cleared and well maintained. But sometimes, drainage issues are beyond the ability of homeowners to take care of themselves. That’s when it’s time to call in an expert. Get a contractor that specializes in drainage systems to come over and evaluate your property. He or she usually has years of experience in identifying drainage problems and installing the proper fixes. When in need of proper repair or installation of drainage pipes and systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s always a practical approach to employ professionals. Companies like RWR Construction Inc. can help you tackle your drainage problems. RWR can also take on your drilling and other engineering construction needs.

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