The CDC states that standing water has several health risks including infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries.
A pond of water in your yard can also kill your grass and plants and damage the foundation of your home.
Here are the causes of standing water and what you can do about it to protect your home and family.
Causes of Standing Water
There are several possible causes for standing water in the yard after rain showers.
The first thing to check for is overwatering. If it rains and the grass and soil are already wet, the rain water can’t go into the ground and sits on the surface.
If your home has an automatic sprinkler, reduce how often it waters your grass and cut down on the number of minutes each time.
Another reason you might be getting standing water is due to the grading of your lawn. The slope of the yard should direct runoff water towards the storm sewer or street.
This is a self-perpetuating problem. If the grading is not correct and water collects on the yard, it causes a low spot. These low spots collect more water each time it rains and the spot gets bigger and bigger.
Problems Due to Standing Water
Standing water is not just unsightly. It poses a threat to your family’s health and your home.
Pools of water are breeding grounds for mosquitos. And mosquitos can carry serious diseases such as the Zika virus.
Water that collects near your home’s foundation is a big problem. On average, homeowners pay $4000 to fix foundation issues in their homes.
Water near your foundation can also cause a flood in your basement and damage your property and cause mold to grow. Slab leak detection is another way to prevent basement damage.
It is much better to prevent these problems by ensuring rainwater flows away from your house than it is to deal with the consequences.
Solutions
There are a couple of solutions for how to soak up water in the backyard.
Re-grade
The first is to re-grade. A landscaper design company can advise you on how to change the angle of your lawn so that proper drainage can happen when it rains. You can also regrade your yard yourself if you feel up to the task.
Install a French Drain
Another option is to install a drainage system called a french drain. This system uses a perforated pipe that runs along the yard in a trench filled with gravel.
The trench is sloped towards the street sewer and away from the house. The gravel in the trench channels the water into the perforated pipe in the trench.
Check out HGTV’s tutorial on how to install a french drain.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this article on standing water helpful. Though it can be a lot of work to ensure proper yard drainage, it is important to protect your home’s foundation and your family.
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