Have you ever walked out onto your lawn and surprisingly stepped into a big puddle of standing water? Why is it there? And why isn’t it draining? Storms, broken and leaking pipes, and heavy rain are all causes of standing water, among other things. It’s important to know why it happens and what you should do about it, whether it occurs in your home, or your yard.
The Yard
First, you need to determine where the water is coming from. Is there a leak in a water supply line or irrigation line? Is it an environmental issue? Where the water is will be the biggest factor in knowing how it got in your yard, under your home, or in your home.
Some of the reasons why you might have standing water in your yard:
- Heavy rain in the past 24-48 hours
- Flooding in the surrounding area
- An obstruction, like a fence, is stalling drainage
- Poor grading, or changed grading of the property
- Sloping yard
- proximity to subterranean water supply
- Damaged plumbing systems
Crawl Space and Basement
Basements and crawl spaces are just as vulnerable to standing water as the lawn, if not more so. If the water isn’t obvious, check the walls for mold and mildew — this could be an indication that a body of water is present in your home. Not only does still water pose a structural danger to your home, it can also lead to health risks and injury.
Some common causes of standing water in a crawl space/basement:
- Surface water flooding
- Improperly installed gutter/downspouts
- Window well issues
- Cracks in the walls or foundation
- Sewage backups
What to Do
Determining whether you can resolve standing water within your home or on your lawn depends on the size of the issue and its duration. In some cases, installing a french pipe or using a sump pump will do the trick. For larger issues, or ones that have been affecting your home or business for some time, it’s best to allow restoration professionals to come in and do what they do best.
