Question: I have a problem that I need guidance with before any heavy rains show up here. My yard out front is higher than an adjacent area, which is next to the house, and there is no way for water to drain. I fear that if we get a big rainstorm this year, we may end up in a situation where the water has a way into the house.
Do I dig a trench? It seems that would be a temporary solution. What is the long-term solution that doesn’t involve ripping out the entire yard and redoing all of it? This is not an option financially this year, so I am looking for something that I can count on for the season, in case it is a wet one.
I figure this is the time, and I’m hoping I’m not too late to hire someone who is dependable and available, before any wet weather may come our way. Any ideas?
— Rick A.
Answer: Rick, I recommend a pump for this scenario where the one area is lower than the adjacent, which blocks the flow of water to the street. You can shop online for a pit and pump. The pit is a pre-fab box, if you will, which will be placed into the ground. A deep enough hole must be dug into the low area, where this pit can be placed.
First call Digalert any time you are digging, to avoid hitting utilities. They’ll mark areas which have utilities, in which case hand digging is necessary.
Once the pit is placed, a discharge line must be run from the pump to the existing area drain line. A licensed and insured plumber can set this up for you.
Alternatively, a less expensive yet often still dependable option that is not permanent, is to do this same thing on a smaller scale, where you simply sink a 5-gallon bucket with a small pump, and run the line over the landscaping where it will go into the existing drain system. This is not quite as dependable but can work short-term, in a pinch. Best of luck.
Robert Lamoureux has more than 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at [email protected].
