When your perimeter drainage system is working properly, it’s something that you rarely give a second thought about, but when something goes wrong, it’s vitally important that you get it fixed as soon as possible. Perimeter drainage in Vancouver is essential, due to the large amount of rain we regularly receive. It is your first line of defense for keeping water away from your home’s foundation.
The whole point of perimeter drainage is that it is designed to protect the foundation of your home from water. It features a buried pipe that runs around the perimeter of your home with holes in it just large enough to allow water in, but small enough to keep dirt out. Through this design, it safely redirects water away from your home.
It may seem hard to tell if there is a problem with your perimeter drainage, but there are some early signs that will let you know. A musty or moldy smell or a feeling of dampness in your house is one sign that there may be a problem with your perimeter drainage. Water backing up through internal floor drains, a wet lawn or major flooding are other clear red flags.
In homes that are newer than 25 to 30 years old, perimeter drainage failure can be avoided by regular cleaning of the drainage system. Just a bit of regular maintenance can save you a lot of money. After all, the cost of regular maintenance is much cheaper than the cost of fixing your home’s foundation. Cleaning and flushing of the perimeter drainage system every 24 – 36 months is recommended.
If your home is older and hasn’t had regular maintenance of the perimeter drainage system, you should get it inspected and then began to conduct regular maintenance. In older homes, the foundation walls often become porous because of a breakdown in the exterior concrete finish and flooding is more likely to occur.
There are many things that can cause problems for your perimeter drainage system. Roots from trees can pierce pipes, or pipes can get clogged, damaged or eroded. If you suspect you are having issues with perimeter drainage in Vancouver, call West Coast Drainage for an evaluation. If everything seems to be fine, remember that an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure and that a little bit of regular maintenance can save you from having drainage problems in the future.
