Licensed Home Inspector Randy Reed explains how he identifies drainage issues during the home inspection. He starts with checking the gutters and downspouts for debris. It’s also important to note if the gutters are designed to discharge water at least three feet away from the home’s foundation. Improper drainage can damage your home foundation and lead to costly repairs!
Transcript: During the home inspection we can identify grading and drainage issues around a home before the buyer commits to purchase. To do so, we would literally start at the top. If the home is equipped with gutters and downspouts, are they clean? We want to make sure that the gutters are not clogged with leaf or limb debris. Then, we will check the downspouts to ensure that they discharge an adequate distance away from the home. Usually, we look for gutters that discharge water a minimum of three feet away from the home foundation. Also, it is important that when water discharges the soil grading promotes the flow of water away from the home. Once the water reaches the discharge location, there should be adequate slope to flow the water further away from your home foundation. If not, we would certainly talk to you about any improvements in any of those areas including additional drainage that would cause that water to move away from your house so that it’s not standing or ponding in any area. Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope you found this information helpful. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to use TEC Inspection Services for your next home inspection. Have a good day.