Key takeaways
- Start with gutters and downspouts, since roof water is the largest source.
- Grade the soil to slope away from the house.
- Add drains for low spots and heavy clay.
- A French drain collects groundwater and carries it away.
Start with the roof
Roof water is the most common source of foundation wetness. Clean gutters, repair leaks and extend downspouts well away from the walls, or better, connect them to buried drain lines that end in a safe outlet.
This step costs the least and often fixes the most.
Check the grade and low spots
The soil next to the house should slope away, falling several inches over the first ten feet where possible. Low spots in the yard collect water and can be fixed with regrading or with a catch basin and a drain line.
Clay soil, common around Nashville, drains slowly, so surface water needs somewhere to go.
Add drains where needed
A French drain is a trench with a perforated pipe in gravel that collects groundwater and carries it to an outlet. It is the right tool for seepage and soggy lawns that regrading does not fix. A sump pump handles water that collects inside a basement or crawl space.
A drain company can walk the property, find where the water comes from and design a plan that does not move the problem to a neighbor.
Related services
Quick answers
Will a French drain fix a wet crawl space?
It can if the water comes from the soil around the house. If the water comes from a leak or high humidity, other fixes such as a sump pump or vapor control may be needed. A visit finds the source.
Can I install a drain myself?
Small surface drains and downspout extensions are manageable for many homeowners. Larger drains need correct slope, a safe outlet and often utility locating, so a professional is a good choice.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-209-7643.