You’re probably familiar with how a gutter system works. Water from a roof is drained into a gutter, that water travels through the gutter and into downspouts. The downspouts drain the water away from your home to avoid drainage issues like foundation damage and flooding.
Are you familiar with where the water goes once it drains out of the downspout and reaches the ground? Interestingly enough, that water doesn’t always just drain down a driveway and into a storm drain. There are plenty of places the water can go: some fill up a rain barrel, flow onto splash blocks, water a garden, etc.
While the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System allows for runoff to flow through the downspouts and directs water away from your home’s foundation, some gutter systems have underground lines and drains. Keep reading as we explain what these are and if they’re worth installing.
What are Underground Lines and Drains?
Underground lines and drains connect to downspouts to direct water away from the home. They’re vertical pipes that connect either directly to a drain or an underground line that are dug several inches underground. Underground lines drain away from the home, in some cases out to a sidewalk or street.
While they can offer some protection from drainage issues, they aren’t always effective and can cause homeowners some major headaches.
What Damage can Underground Lines and Drains Cause?
Yes, underground lines and drains work most of the time, but there are instances where damage can occur to the home. For one, pooling water in a yard will occur if the drains and lines are clogged. Much like half-round gutters that can easily become clogged due to debris, underground lines and drains are no exception to clogs. If gutters aren’t cleaned properly then that debris will ultimately travel into the underground lines and drains, causing them to clog, resulting in leaks.
These leaks can cause foundation damage and landscaping issues. How? It’s simple: when underground lines and drains are clogged, the water will start to back up and put pressure on the external pipes. When there’s enough pressure, the pipe can loosen or even fracture, resulting in water damage. When underground lines and drains facture, water will accumulate wherever the lines and drains are installed and feed into the rest of your yard. Water will eventually build up near your foundation, causing possible cracks and basement flooding, and even damage to your home’s siding.
Another way that underground lines and drains can cause damage is if the water in the pipes freezes. Living in the Heartland means we experience all sorts of weather patterns including ice storms, freezing rain, and snow. All of this winter weather can cause underground lines and drains to freeze, putting pressure on the pipes, loosening, or even fracturing the external pipes.
Repairing damage caused by underground lines and drains is expensive. For one, you’ll need to repair whatever damage was done to your home. Whether foundation damage occurred or landscaping damage, repairs can be costly. Next, you’ll need to repair the underground lines and drains which means you’ll need to dig up your yard, ruining your grass and landscaping.
How Can I Avoid Underground Line and Drain Damage?
If you have an existing underground line and drain system then you’ll want to pay attention to the signs of damage before it can occur. You can be pro-active by paying attention to the following:
- Check that the external pipes aren’t clogged
- Check the outflow termination (where the water drains) for clogs
- Check for pooling water in your yard that may indicate an issue with your underground line and drain system
Another measure you can take to avoid underground lines and drain damage is to install a quality gutter system like the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. Our gutter product is a complete system offering more than one part to keep leaves, debris, and pests out. From our curved hood that allows debris to simply slide off to our oversized gutters and downspouts that allow for more water to flow through at a rapid pace, K-Guard is the premier gutter system in the Heartland.
Unlike a half-round gutter system that can cause clogs, overflowing, and sagging gutters, K-Guard will never cause damage to your home. Our rear-drainage channel allows water to enter the system in multiple ways so water isn’t left to sit on the roof or flow over the gutters resulting in flooding and foundation damage.
Our gutter system also comes with three lifetime warranties including a 100% lifetime clog-free warranty, something that many other “complete” gutter systems can’t offer. K-Guard is so durable that it’s guaranteed transferable for the life of the home.
While underground lines and drains can protect a home from drainage issues, they can cause issues for homeowners. If you’re on the fence about installing them or if you’re ready to install the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System, contact us today. We offer free in-home estimates that include a detailed analysis of your current gutter system along with estimated costs for installing your K-Guard Gutter System. K-Guard proudly offers our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations:
