The extension for downspouts are one of those things that always seem to be in the way but are essential to a dry basement.
Downspout extensions are one of those things that always seem to be in the way when your mowing the lawn or just walking by. The get tripped over, banged up and can be frustrating to deal with.
At least 80% of the time they are either too short, damaged, lifted up against the house or missing altogether.
Why are Downspouts so important?
The short answer is a dry basement.
Moisture is one of the biggest enemies of your home. It can cause all kinds of damage and is a breading ground for mold. Without proper downspouts and extensions the water is not directed away from the home properly and the result is usually a wet basement.
These people were lucky they didn’t have a finished basement so the damage was limited. But they still had a mess to deal with.
It’s easy to help keep your basement dry:
- Make sure your downspouts are down and connected properly so they don’t fall off.
- Repair or replace damaged downspouts.
- They need to be 4-6 feet long and draining away from the house. Longer if you have poor grading. Poor grading is when the ground slopes towards your home.
- If you have a rain barrel make sure there is an overflow and it is draining 4-6 feet away from the home. Better yet put the rain barrels away from the home and run the downspout to them.
Take a few minutes today to check your downspouts. Don’t forget to check them regularly and put them back when your done mowing the lawn.
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