Look for the following downspout situations: downspouts too close to the roof, clogged downspouts, missing downspouts, and clogged or missing drain lines.
Make a simple outline of the outside walls of your home, then mark the location of all your downspouts on your diagram. Then mark a line to the point where they discharge. Buried drains are usually only 10” to 12” below ground.
The next thing to do is insert a garden hose in the drain line and see if the water comes out somewhere away from the house. Look for the wet area near the curb or on your property down hill from the hose. Downspout discharge lines should be at least 10 feet from the nearest wall with a down slope dropping away from the structure.
Improper spouting and discharge lines are responsible for approximately 50% of all of the wet basements I have seen.
Mark the location of your downspouts and the approximate length or your walls on the diagram. Then go in your home and mark the areas on the inside that have water problems against the corresponding wall on the outside. Look for the downspout nearest that point. There is a good chance your problem will be there.
If you have missing or damaged parts on your gutter system, this is where to start. The use of leaf strainers, gutter guards in wooded areas, and drip edges if your house has insufficient shingle overhang are recommended. The strainers help keep your downspouts clear and the drip edge insures the rain water reaches the gutter and doesn’t fall next to your foundation.
Check the gutters and clean them of leaves, nests, and other debris. During a rainstorm, go outside and check for breaks or leaks. Repair any damage caused by ice and snow. Many basement water problems can be corrected by the proper installation and repair of roof gutters and correctly positioned downspouts.
If your downspouts end in a splash guard, it should carry the water at least 8 to 10 feet from the house. You many need to install some plastic pipe temporarily to do this, but it is important to do so. Your buried drain lines will normally carry the water to a curb, storm sewer, or a dry well. Splash guards, while providing a very simple, and in many cases incomplete solution to the discharge of downspout water, do carry it away from the wall. This is very important as the water will not drain directly down the wall area and soak the blocks.
As always, I wish you good fortune and success solving your waterproofing problems. Take a deep breath and try not to get discouraged if things don’t go quickly and easily, as is often the case. Don’t take it personally. Remember, nearly every solution which now exist was acquired by trial and error by someone who was frustrated before you. Persevere, you’ll get the job done and feel very good about it.
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