Drainage

Drainage refers to the systems that move water away from your home, protecting your foundation, landscaping, and basement from costly water damage. From French drains and grading solutions to gutter maintenance and sump pumps, proper water management keeps your property safe and dry year-round. Whether you need a quick fix or a complete system installation, Angi connects you with local pros and expert guidance.
Drainage Articles and Advice
Plumbing damages and repairs can quickly get expensive. Use these plumbing maintenance tips to help avoid pipe breaks, clogs, and other plumbing issues.
Budgeting for your home maintenance needs? Our guide on how often to pump your septic tank covers everything you need to know about this critical task.
Septic leach lines perform the important function of taking wastewater from your septic tank to the leach field. Here’s how they work and how to maintain them.
A plumbing stack is an integral part of your drain-waste-vent system and includes three major components. A failed plumbing stack can lead to more damage.
If you have a clogged pipe and natural methods are not working, you may need something stronger. How do drain cleaners work? Find out in this guide.
Sump pumps can protect your home from flooding and water damage. This guide covers everything you need to know about sump pumps, including different types and how they work.
Trenching means digging a depression in the earth that’s longer than it is wide. Here’s what you need to know about trenching—including doing it safely.
A sump pump doesn’t remove water from your home on its own. Check out this diagram of a sump pump to see how it works with a sump pit, discharge pipe, and more.
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Common Drainage Questions

Watch for slow drainage, pooling water in the yard, or unpleasant odors inside or outside. Addressing these issues timely avoids significant disruptions or costs.

Leach lines are commonly made of PVC pipe, and they’re placed into trenches filled with gravel and sand, which help treat the wastewater. The PVC pipes are perforated, or drilled with small holes, so the wastewater can drain out of the pipes and into the surrounding material, which eventually leads to the aquifer.

A sewage smell in your crawl space is usually from a damaged or clogged pipe leaking sewer gasses or actual sewage underneath your home, but there are some other common causes. Moisture, from poor or damaged encapsulation or a malfunctioning sump pump, can harbor mold and bacteria, causing a musty smell. Pests can also get stuck in your crawl space and die, which causes a sewage-like odor.

Permits command adherence to health and environmental standards, with submission crucial for new system installations or extensive modifications.

Troubleshooting common leach field problems is not easy, but a professional can help. Unclogging the baffle and pipes, emptying the tank, or removing heavy items from the area are all options for troubleshooting. However, if you have an older leach field that was installed 15 to 30 years ago or if the pipes suffered damage from excessive weight, your only option might be replacing the leach field.