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How To Prevent Outdoor Flooding In Vancouver

The Lower Mainland is famous for excessive amounts of rainfall during the fall and winter months. This can be problematic for those whose homes or apartments aren’t optimized for this type of weather.

In fact, the more water accumulates near a house, the greater the chance of unwanted leaks or water damage in and around the home. Here are some ways to avoid outdoor flooding during the winter, so you can be sure your house stays dry!

Clean Your Gutters

The most effective drainage system to keep water from collecting on the roof of your house is your gutters. They gather water that would otherwise run off your roof and fall around the base of your house. Gutters divert water from gathering on the roof and the ground and effectively drain it.

It is a good idea to clean your gutters or have them professionally cleaned before the fall and winter months. This is because you want to rid your gutter of any obstructions that could cause a clog. It is a good idea to get your gutters cleaned once or twice per year.

Cluttered gutters won’t effectively drain water. They may also become heavy with debris and break or change shape.

Strategic Landscaping

Ideally, your home or apartment building is built on higher ground. Water runs downhill and can collect or flood in areas that have a lower elevation. If your home isn’t built on very high ground, there are some things you can do to prevent flooding.

  • Plant a raised flower garden by your house.
    • The soil, plants, and pebbles will help to absorb water before it seeps into your basement. Be sure to leave a 6-12 inch gap between the soil mulch and the home. You do not want the soil directly next to your home because it can cause dampness and decomposition.
  • Dig a decorative creek in your yard.
    • These can be beautiful landscaping options and they help drain water away from the house. Fill the creek with decorative stones and various sizes of rocks. The creek should be a dry creek, it will not fill with water, but in periods of heavy rainfall, water will collect and drain into the decorative creek, rather than disperse around your home.
  • Use patches of grass or plants as barriers.
    • If the flooding is not that bad in your yard, you can use grass to help soak up excess moisture in the ground.

Check Your Sewer Line

If there is a particular area in your yard that always appears flooded, even when precipitation is low? You could have a cracked or broken pipeline underground. This is a plausible reason for why water gathers and collects in certain areas even when it is dry out.

At Hillcrest Plumbing, we are experts in all drainage and sewer repair so give us a call if you notice that this is a problem in your yard. You may simply need your drainage pipes replaced.

Clear Your Drains

If you notice that water is collecting and pooling over areas that have a drain, there is a good chance that it is not draining as fast as it should. You could have a clogged or blocked drain outside. If you see that water drains away from your house but collects on the street, the city storm sewers could be clogged.

Brush away any obstructions or dry leaves if you see them, but you should also contact the city and inform them of the clogged drain as well, especially if water is collecting on the street.

Contact Your Plumber

It can be difficult to avoid the heavy rains and constant puddles characteristic to the lower mainland. However, there are some things that you can do to try and stay dry. Protect your property and take these initial steps to creating a better drainage system for your yard.

If you have any questions, or you are experiencing a plumbing emergency, contact your local plumber. Hillcrest Plumbing has been servicing the lower-mainland for over 50 years. We are experts in both plumbing and heating problems. If you want an outdoor plumbing assessment give us a call.

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