Drainage: The Signs and Problems

   A lot of us, hopefully ALL of us, live our lives doing our best to avoid problems and of course that isn't always possible. Drainage problems are just one of the many issues and one of the most important that any homeowner can encounter, Whether you're living with Oscar the Grouch or living at the White House, Drainage issues can ruin even the most well-kept yards if not taken care of.  Drainage can sometimes be a hard problem to spot if you are not familiar with the signs and if it isn't spotted soon enough then it may have already caused damages for example; cracked foundations, moisture in crawl space, dead or dying plants and/or grass, even shifting or cracking concrete, just to name a few. But it's okay because SSL is here to save the day! Down below we will speak more in detail of what you should look for in order to avoid spending a ton of money on something you can spot from the get-go. 

​​ Erosion
   Having a huge amount of water in your yard can cause soil to be removed, uproot your plants, carve gullies, and in some instances even cause sinkholes. These changes can occur gradually overtime or maybe even suddenly after a bad rainstorm. 
 Bald Spots
   No, we're not talking about the bald spots on anyone's heads. We're talking about those dead patches of grass in your yard you've been blaming on the dog for weeks now ( just kidding ). Anyway as most people know; you can over water plants which is of course, including your grass. Grass still needs oxygen to thrive and too much water can make your grass more susceptible to fungal diseases; which we may or may not discuss in future posts ;) 
 Smelly Soil ( Ew.. we know )
   Excess amounts of water that doesn't make it into the ground first thing, keeps your soil wet for long periods of time causing a distinct odor that, lets just say you definitely don't want to wake up to every single day. I mean I think we can all agree Mondays already suck! Smelly soil happens because the present moisture in the soil supports growth of anaerobic bacteria but this doesn't mean your property has to look like Shrek's living quarters for you to have this issue. Your soil should not smell rotten or reek of sulfur and/or ammonia, guys and gals!
 Foundation Cracks
   This one is a bit more serious/scary and goes to show how dangerous it can be to ignore your drainage problems. If you have noticed any cracks in your homes foundation this could be a result from poor water drainage and may harm your house further. However, we should also keep in mind that some foundation cracking is normal and is an almost inevitable effect from the house settling. If they are too small to tell or you just can't identify if it is a result from poor drainage, we urge you to have professionals to check it out. It's always better to be safe than sorry. 
 Mildew/Mold
   Soil that isn't being drained properly puts out a lot more moisture into the atmosphere and eventually will rise in which can end up in your crawl space. After it makes a safe trip to Crawl Space Town, it begins to condense against the cold underside of the roof; creating the perfect place for mildew to grow and live happily ever after... That is until a professional arrives. 

Friendly Reminder:
Not all companies are equal and do not specialize in drainage. It is often a great practice to get many different opinions on your issues because there are many different solutions to drainage or water problems. Some may even be a better fix at a better price.