What Is a Weeping Tile System? How to Tell If Yours Still Works
Weeping tile is the footing drain buried around your foundation. Here is how to tell if your house has one, whether it still works, and what to do if it doesn't.
Window Well Flooding: Causes and Fixes
A window well is a bucket set against your foundation. Here is why yours fills, how to check the drain, and the fixes from a $60 cover to a full rebuild.
What Is a French Drain and How Does It Work?
A trench, some gravel, and a perforated pipe. Here is how a french drain actually moves water, how to size and slope one, and the mistakes that make them fail.
How Far Should Downspouts Extend From the Foundation?
Six feet is the minimum, ten is better, and on clay soil further still. Here is the math behind it and every extension option ranked by cost and durability.
Correct Grading Slope Around a House Foundation
Code says 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet. Here is how to measure yours, why it settles over time, and how to fix it without burying your siding.
How Gutters Cause Basement Leaks
An overflowing gutter dumps a curtain of water into the soil against your wall. Here are the eight gutter failures that flood basements and how to spot each.
How Long Does a Sump Pump Battery Backup Last?
Two different questions: how many hours per outage, and how many years before replacement. Here is the math for both, and how to extend each.
How to Test a Sump Pump at Home
A five-gallon bucket and ten minutes four times a year is the difference between a working pump and a flooded basement. Here is exactly what to do.
Sump Pump Keeps Running But No Water: 8 Causes and How to Fix Each
A pump that runs without moving water is either recirculating, airlocked, blocked, or stuck. Work through these eight causes in order before replacing anything.
How Often Should a Sump Pump Run? Normal Cycles vs Warning Signs
There is no single correct number. What matters is whether your pump's pattern matches conditions. Here is what normal looks like and when to investigate.