Fall in West Michigan starts showing itself in September, but October is when leaves can quickly pile up around homes in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. By late fall, they may be covering more than the lawn. Leaves can collect over window well drains, exterior drainage openings, and other places designed to keep water moving away from your basement.
A properly installed waterproofing system should be prepared for changing weather conditions. But keeping its drainage components clear can reduce unnecessary water buildup and help the system do its job. A blocked drain can send water somewhere it was never supposed to go, while neglected sump pump cleaning can leave another important part of the system less prepared for heavy fall rain.
In this blog, we explain several areas where falling leaves can affect your basement waterproofing system and what you can do to prevent drainage problems this fall.
Leaves in Window Wells Can Block Drainage
Window wells are natural collection points for falling leaves. Wind pushes leaves against the house, and once they drop into a window well, the surrounding walls can keep them there. Add fall rain, and wet leaves can settle over the drain at the bottom.
When the window well drain is blocked, water has fewer places to go. It can begin collecting in the well directly against the basement window. If the water rises high enough or finds a weak point around the window, you may end up with water inside the basement.
Solution
Remove leaves from window wells throughout the fall rather than waiting until the trees are bare. Check the drain opening and make sure water can move through it. A fitted window well cover can also reduce the amount of leaves and debris getting inside.
If a window well continues filling with water after it has been cleaned, West Michigan Waterproofing can inspect the drainage and determine why the water is not leaving the well properly.
Leaves Can Cover Exterior Drains
Exterior drains and catch basins are easy to forget because they sit at ground level. In October, leaves can cover a drain grate completely, especially in yards with mature trees.
The pipe itself does not have to be clogged to cause trouble. A layer of wet leaves over the opening can prevent water from reaching the drain. Instead, runoff begins pooling or finds another path across the property. If that path leads toward the house, more water can saturate the soil around the foundation.
Solution
Clear leaves from drain grates and the surrounding area, then check that water can enter the drain freely. Do the same after windy days when another layer of leaves may have collected.
For homes in tree-filled neighborhoods of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, checking exterior drainage more than once during the fall can prevent a small blockage from becoming a basement water problem.
Leaves Around a Walkout Basement Drain Can Lead to Water at the Door
A walkout basement creates another low point where leaves and rainwater can collect. Leaves blow down exterior stairs or across a patio and settle around the drain near the basement entrance.
Once that drain is covered, rainwater can begin pooling at the bottom of the stairs or directly outside the basement door. Unlike water collecting elsewhere in the yard, this water is already below grade and only a short distance from the interior.
Solution
Keep the drain and the area around it free of leaves throughout the season. After cleaning, pour water near the drain and watch how quickly it disappears. Slow drainage after the visible debris has been removed can indicate a problem farther inside the drainage line.
If water repeatedly collects outside a walkout basement, the issue may require more than leaf removal. The drain, surrounding grade, and basement drainage should be evaluated together to find out why water continues reaching the entrance.
Clogged Gutters Send More Water Toward the Foundation
Gutters may not be part of the basement itself, but they play an important role in keeping water away from it. Leaves can restrict gutters and downspouts, causing roof water to overflow close to the house instead of following the intended discharge route. Building America guidance recommends keeping gutters clear and directing downspouts away from the foundation.
That extra water can saturate the soil beside the basement walls and increase the amount of groundwater the foundation drainage system has to manage.
Solution
Clean gutters and check downspouts after the heaviest leaf drop. Also pay attention to where the downspouts end. Water should continue away from the foundation rather than collect beside it.
A Few Leaves Can Find the Wrong Place
The colorful streets of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo are one of the best parts of a West Michigan fall. The same leaves look much less appealing when they are sitting over the drain protecting your basement.
Keeping window wells, exterior drains, walkout entrances, and sump systems ready for fall rain gives your waterproofing system a better chance to handle water as designed. It also gives you a chance to spot a drainage problem before late-fall rain and winter weather arrive.
If you notice water collecting where it should not, contact West Michigan Waterproofing to have your basement waterproofing and drainage system inspected.