Every new home

comes with a drainage system.

The land

surrounding your home is graded to slope away

from your house. And your roof is equipped with

downspouts and gutters essential for adequate

drainage. If you maintain this system, you can

protect your home from water damage and flooding.

Take

all the steps necessary to preserve your home's

drainage system, which regulates moisture content

of the soil surrounding your home. You need to

upkeep your home's drainage system so that it

will continue to regulate the moisture content of

soil surrounding your house.

The

ground should be six inches from the house, not

against it. Drainage swales or other discharge

channels were sized and sloped to accommodate

water runoff and should be kept clear of debris

such as leaves, gravel and trash. Allow six

inches of clearance between your grading and the

wall siding; otherwise, water may enter the joint

between the foundation and the wall material, or

the wood may decay.

Depressions

may form as the soil around the house becomes

compacted. Fill any depressions with dirt so that

water will not form puddles or cause dampness.

In

the first 10 feet of land surrounding your home,

the grade should slope approximately 12 inches,

tapering to a 2 percent angle. Maintain the soil

around your home so that natural land erosion

does not cause the slope to disappear.

Fill

in areas with soil as needed so that water

continues to drain away from your home. Also,

make certain that nothing obstructs the path of

water that will trickle down the sloped land.

Water that cannot slide away from your house

might end up moving toward it and getting into

your house.

Gutters

and downspouts control the water that runs off

your roof during a rainstorm, regulating the

moisture content of soil surrounding your home

and channeling water away from its foundation.

Keep your gutters clean! If spouts get plugged,

you may develop water problems.

Debris

often collects at the downspout area. Start

cleaning there and work your way up. Try to empty

your gutters once in the spring and once in the

fall.

But

if you can only clean them once a year, do it in

late autumn after the trees have shed their

leaves. Make sure your splash blocks under

downspouts direct water further away from your

house.

Vinyl

gutters never need to be painted. Paint is

optional for aluminum gutters. Gutters made of

most other metals will need a coat of

rust-retardant paint whenever the rest of the

house is painted (every four to six years).

If

you have an older home, you might need to install

new gutters and downspouts. Before doing so,

check with your local building inspection

department to see if you must comply with any

regulations.

Finally,

watch what you plant in the yard surrounding your

home. Some types of grasses need more water than

other types. The grass you plant can serve as a

supplemental drainage system. If you have a home

in a low, damp region, plant a grass that absorbs

substantial quantities of water. Don't stress

your drainage system by over-watering your

landscaping.

By

taking these steps, you will keep your drainage

system healthy and ready to do its job during the

heaviest seasonal rains.