Outdoor drainage is often overlooked by homeowners, leading to some serious problems. Drainage is essential for the structural integrity of your house foundations as well as the health of the soil and plants. Stormwater creates two main issues when your backyard has poor drainage systems:
1. Soil erosion: Erosion washes away topsoil, which, over time, decreases soil quality and threatens your building foundations. Although it is a natural process, it is important to combat this with proper drainage systems to keep your landscape and foundations in top condition.
2. Compaction: Compaction increases soil density, which restricts the movement of water and air in the soil, and reduces the delivery of nutrients. This prevents grass and other plant life from growing properly and can leave your yard looking barren.
Having a proper RELN drainage plan will help you save money and headaches later down the track, while protecting your asset – your home!
In this blog, we will discuss the common drainage problems people generally have around the home, and how you can fix it!
Water Pooling in Driveway
Water pooling on your driveway reduces the functionality of your driveway and could potentially cause flooding within your garage and home.
The RELN channel drainage ranges, Storm Mate or Storm Drain can eliminate this problem and divert surface water from your home. Simply install straight-line drainage at the entrance to your garage to solve this issue. Load rated to withstand vehicle traffic, RELN channel drains are the ideal solution for diverting surface water on your driveway away from your home.
Water Pooling in Yard
Water pooling in your yard creates muddy areas, which cause soil compaction and prevent grass from growing. This also potentially becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The RELN Ag-Pipe and Stretch Ag-Pipe ranges can solve this problem and divert surface water away from your yard. Simply install ag line beneath the surface of the soil to enable water to drain away and solve this issue. RELN Stretch Ag-Pipe is perfect for small areas and DIY projects as it is flexible, can be stretched to the desired length, and will bend around anything.
Water Pooling on Pathway
Water pooling on a path can potentially cause a slip hazard and prevent walkways from being easily trafficable. This pooling water can also enable algae to grow on your pavers, tarnishing the appearance of your outdoor space while also creating a slippery surface. Once algae forms, it’s difficult and time-consuming to remove, so prevention is the best option.
The RELN Storm Mate or Storm Drain channel drain ranges, paired with a Heelguard grate can eliminate this problem and divert surface water from your home. Simply install straight-line drainage to solve this issue.
Downspout Runoff
Downspouts drain water from your roof gutters directly to the base of your home. If not diverted, this water can cause foundation damage, which can affect the structural integrity of your home.
The RELN Traditional Pit or Uni-Pit ranges can solve this problem and divert surface water from your home. Simply install a pit directly underneath your downspout to drain this water away from your home. Alternatively, RELN Splash blocks can be placed directly under a downpipe to divert and slow the flow of water – no install needed!
Water Pooling in Garden Beds
Water pooling in garden beds creates muddy areas and causes damage to your garden bed. If not treated with a proper drainage system, this will discourage plant growth and in very wet conditions, can kill your plants.
The RELN Uni-Pit and RELN Ag-Pipe ranges can solve this problem and divert surface water away from your garden bed. Simply install a 200 or 300 Uni-Pit coupled with ag line to solve this issue. RELN has an Atrium Green grate designed specifically for garden areas, to stop mulch entering the drainage system.