How To Fix Water Pooling In Backyards
Spring is defined by longer hours of sunshine, blooming flowers, and high chances of precipitation that might just rain on your parade by causing water pooling backyard areas. (Yup, this dreamy season is also a springboard for a bunch of spring plumbing problems.)
The aftermath of heavy rainfall sometimes includes random puddles of water that linger in your backyard. A backyard covered in wet patches is both unappealing and inconvenient. Just imagine all the muddy shoe marks!
A pool in your backyard is great, but pooling in your backyard? Not so much. It may not be easy to identify the root cause at first glance, but we’re here to help you zoom in on the situation.
Let’s dive right in!
Contents:
✅ Common Causes for Pooling Water In the Backyard
🌧 Drainage Issues
💧 Sewer Line Leak
🚰 Main Water Leak
🌱 Thatch and Compaction
🏡 Health Risks of Standing Water in the Yard
🤿 Take a Deep Dive Into Pooling Water Solutions
Common Causes for Pooling Water In the Backyard
1. Drainage Issues
If you usually notice puddles of water accumulating in your yard after a heavy downpour, this could be a sign of a faulty drainage system.
The majority of water drainage on lawns happens directly through the soil. To that effect, the type of soil impacts the drainage procedure. Thanks to their sieve-like properties, loamy and sandy soils are the better choice versus heavier clay-based ones.
2. Sewer Line Leak
Another common cause of water pooling in the backyard is a sewer line leak.
Damaged sewer pipes are gateways for water and sewer waste to leak and pool on your beautiful lawn. If the puddle’s smell makes you distort your face in disgust, it’s most likely a result of a sewer line leak.
In such instances, call a plumber as soon as possible to prevent the issue from escalating into a more damaging and costly repair.
Remember that time is of the essence, as faulty sewer pipes can damage your property and trigger significant health hazards.
3. Main Water Leak
This puddle-inducing problem refers to the main water pipe that connects your home to the water meter.
A telltale sign of a main water leak is an unusual spike in your recent water bills. While this may seem like a catastrophic problem, it’s not something that a trusted, licensed plumber can’t handle. A licensed plumber should be able to investigate the issue and provide a solution promptly and effectively.
4. Thatch and Compaction
Lawn thatch and compaction are nemeses of proper drainage. This is because they create barriers that trap water.
Thatch is built-up plant matter at the foundation of a grass plant that resists decay. This substance can accumulate over time, ultimately preventing water and air movement. As a byproduct, this also becomes the ideal habitat for pests to thrive and to decide that they live there now.
Compaction is when soil gets packed down due to frequent foot traffic leading to an unhealthy, worn-out lawn. Just like thatch, this yard condition stops air and water movement and limits the depth of grass root growth.
Depending on how severe the issue is, you can try your hand at DIY-ing a fix.
First off, use a dethatching rake or power dethatcher to eliminate mild thatch.
Compaction, on the other hand, can be repaired by core aeration. This process involves removing small cores of soil to deposit them onto the surface of the turf. The purpose of core aeration is to improve the depth and extent of turf grass roots.
Health Risks of Standing Water in the Yard
Unsightly pooled water in the yard may be a big no-no for you, but rodents, insects, pathogens, and algae see them as paradise.
1. Rodents
Rodents have the ability to spread diseases via water. This is because they tend to utilize small bodies of water for nesting or water holes.
2. Mosquitoes
Standing water is a beacon for mosquitoes. These pesky bugs aren’t just like tiny vampires that feed on blood; they carry diseases such as encephalitis, dengue, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria too.
3. Pathogens
Bacteria and water parasites pose a health issue for both humans and animals.
4. Algae
We’re guessing that your backyard is jazzed up with gorgeous flora; don’t let algae blooms camouflage into the healthy greenery!
Some types of algae grow in standing water and run the risk of releasing toxins into the environment.
Take a Deep Dive Into Pooling Water Solutions
For fast, effective, and long-lasting solutions to pooling water backyards, you can’t go wrong with Plumbwize.
Thanks to our highly-skilled team of plumbers and top-notch equipment, those pesky puddles of pooled water in your backyard will be a thing of the past.
Give us a call to request a quote today!