Improper spouting and discharge lines are responsible for about one half of basement water problems.
It is very important to have sufficient and properly located and functioning gutters and downspout lines on your home.
Look for the following most common downspout situations: downspouts too close to the roof, clogged downspouts, missing downspouts.
If you see water overflowing from your gutters or downspouts and have already checked to be sure they are not clogged, then you either have a problem with the discharge drain line or an inadequate downspout, which is too narrow to carry the water in a heavy rain.
In this case, you will want to install a larger diameter downspout.
If your downspout is not clogged then the problem is in the drain line which is probably blocked.
Downspout discharge lines should be at least 10 feet from the nearest wall with a down slope dropping away from the structure.
Insert a garden hose in the drain line to see if the water comes out somewhere away from the house.
Buried drains lines are usually only 10" to 12" below ground.
You can insert a hose into the point where the downspouts enter the ground and turn it on.
If the water backs up and overflows, you know that is the problem.
Look for the wet area near the curb or on your property down hill from the house.
You may be able to go to the discharge point at a curb of lower elevation from your home where the discharge line comes out and clear the opening of any derbies.
If this is not possible, you may need to use a long snake or should that not work, the services of Roto-Rooter or another drain clearing service.
You can go to http://www.
basementwaterproofinginfo.
com for additional examples of spouting and related problems and solutions.