Maintaining Your Home Drainage System
In order to properly maintain your home drainage system, you should perform a full inspection of your system at least once a year. This will allow you to find any issues that need to be repaired to avoid flooding in your home. Your inspection should include the entire system, inside and outside your home.
When inspecting your drainage system outside, you want to start with the most obvious places. First, check all eaves troughs and downspouts. Remove any leaves or debris you find inside, and look for any elbows or connections that need to be tightened. Check for any leaks that may need caulking and any badly dented or cracked sections that need to be repaired. Next, inspect all splash pads and extensions. Check for any loose pads or connections and any bad dents or cracks. Be sure to check the soft rollout extensions for any leaks, and ensure that they are working properly. Lastly, inspect your lot grading. Look at the slope from the basement wall. The backfill should be at least 8 inches from the top of the foundation. Keep an eye out for any settling, especially under stairs and decks. Also look for low spots that need to be filled, and any cracks or spaces on your driveway, walkways, or patios that are next to the foundation wall that should be fixed.
Inside your home, you want to start by inspecting the foundation walls. Check for any moisture along the floor while looking for any visible cracks that need to be filled or sealed. You also want to make sure that your sump pump is in good condition. Check for power, and then test the pump by pouring water into the well to ensure it is working properly. Follow the outside pipe to check for leaks and to be sure that water is flowing to the street or back lane. Finish your inspection with the backwater valve. Clean out any debris, and make sure the flapper is moving freely.
Make note of any issues that you find along the way. Any needed repairs should be a top priority. Are you dealing with clogged drains in your Baldwin Park home? Call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 and schedule a service call today!