How far should a downspout send water?

There is no single distance for every lot. Send water to a stable area away from the house. Do not let it pool, cross a walk or flow onto a neighbor’s property.

Can I just add soil beside a damp wall?

Do not pile soil against the wall. First identify why the area is wet and preserve visible wall details and termite inspection clearance. A small grading correction may help, but adding material can hide the wall base or make drainage worse.

When should I check drainage?

Check during or soon after rain, and run irrigation zones periodically to look for overspray or leaks. Pinellas County's summer rainy season makes those observations especially useful, but a dry-season irrigation leak can also keep a spot wet.

Will a splash block fix standing water?

Only if the outlet is the main issue and the surrounding grade lets water flow away. If water remains around the block or runs back toward the house, look at the grade and discharge route instead.

When is drainage work beyond a simple DIY fix?

Ask for an assessment if water keeps entering or pooling. Get help if soil shifts or water may reach another property. Do this before digging or changing the slope.

Water & Moisture

7 low-cost drainage fixes that protect your home

In Pinellas County, summer rain can show where water collects. Use these checks to spot simple fixes. Get help when the yard needs a closer look.

Quick answer

Start by watching where rainwater goes around your home. Clear loose debris, check downspouts and keep sprinkler spray off walls. Small fixes may help when there is a safe path for water. Do not send water toward a neighbor. Get help if water keeps pooling or enters your home.

By Davis Build & Restore · Florida Certified Building Contractor CBC 1256241Last reviewed: Oct. 17, 20266 min read

Key takeaways

Move roof water away from the wall.
Keep soil and mulch below wall details.
Check water flow during rain and watering.
Get help if water keeps entering or the safe flow route is unclear.

Your yard does not need to be perfectly dry. Keep roof and ground water from gathering beside your home. Water can pass through small gaps in slab and block homes. Watch where it flows, not just the wall.

Walk around during or after rain. You can see where water goes. Sandy soil may drain fast, but packed soil, yard borders and low spots can slow it down. Make one small change, then check during the next rain.

1. Keep gutters flowing

Call a proTools: Phone camera, binoculars

Gutters carry roof water to downspouts. Leaves or grit can block them. Water may spill near the house or behind the gutter. Look for stains, sagging parts and drips.

A clear-looking gutter may still have a blocked outlet. Check the downspout opening too. Keep water out of low beds beside the wall. Sun and salt air can loosen screws and seals.

For a related check, read our guide to signs of water in block walls.

What to do: Clear safe-to-reach debris. Check that water leaves through the downspouts.

Check it yourself: Watch the gutter from a safe place during rain. Do not climb a wet ladder or reach near wires.

2. Extend downspouts

Easy — do it yourselfTools: Downspout extension, gloves

A short downspout can dump roof water beside the house. An extension carries water farther away. Choose a place where it will not flow back, cross a walk or reach a neighbor’s yard.

Keep the extension steady and out of walkways. Do not aim it at a low spot, utility feature or building. Water must flow away from the house.

What to do: Direct each downspout to a safe area where water can flow away.

3. Use splash blocks where they help

Easy — do it yourselfTools: Splash block, gloves

A splash block slows water from a downspout. It can stop water from digging a hole in soil. Use one only when water already flows away from the wall.

Point the block away from the house. If water pools or flows back, the ground may need work. Do not use a block to hide a leak or short downspout.

What to do: Set the block under the outlet. Aim it toward a lower area away from the wall.

4. Regrade soil to slope away

Moderate — handy homeownerTools: Board, tape measure, gloves

Ground beside your home should slope away, not form a bowl. During rain, watch for water beside the wall, near a door or flowing back from pavement.

You may fix a small low spot with clean soil. Do not cover wall openings or the space needed to check for termites. Do not pile soil against the slab or wall. Settled ground, a wall or a narrow lot may need a planned fix.

What to do: Fill small low spots. Keep wall details visible and leave a path for water to drain.

Check it yourself: Use a board to compare the ground near the wall with ground farther out. Check the flow in rain.

Ground should drop at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet

Florida Building Code, Residential R401.3. Where space or barriers prevent this slope, approved drains or swales are needed.

5. Pull mulch and soil back from the wall

Easy — do it yourselfTools: Gloves, rake

Mulch and soil build up as plants grow. Too much can hold water at the wall and hide its bottom edge or openings. Shrubs can hide the problem.

Pull loose material back so you can see the wall base. Do not dig below the slab or weaken a walk or garden border. Keep plants from hiding where the wall meets the ground.

What to do: Show the wall base. Keep mulch and soil off wall details.

6. Redirect irrigation heads

Moderate — handy homeownerTools: Sprinkler guide

Sprinklers can wet walls, windows and doors, even in dry weather. Spray can leave white marks or wet soil near the slab. Watch each sprinkler zone as it runs.

Aim each sprinkler at plants, not the house. Check for broken heads or leaks when the system is off. From June through September, rain may mean your yard needs less watering.

What to do: Aim sprinklers at plants. Fix leaks and spray that hits the house.

7. Clear swales and low drainage paths

Easy — do it yourselfTools: Gloves, rake

A swale is a shallow channel that guides rainwater. Leaves, dirt, plants or stored items can block it. Check the water path after rain.

Clear loose debris, but do not dig, fill or change the channel without knowing where water should go. Changes may send water to a neighbor or block shared drainage. Check rules before changing a shared route.

What to do: Clear debris. Keep the water path open and do not send water to another property.

When you don't need a contractor

You may not need a contractor for a clogged gutter, sprinkler aimed at the house, short downspout or loose debris. Fix the cause, then check during rain. A dry yard does not prove the fix worked.

Do not pile soil against the house, dig a new channel or pump water toward a neighbor. If a small, safe fix works, keep checking the area. Take photos of puddles to compare them over time.

When to call a pro

Ask for an inspection if water keeps standing beside the house or entering through a wall or door. Get help if water returns after basic care. A professional should trace where water starts and flows before suggesting work.

For water that keeps returning near the foundation, see foundation waterproofing. For other upkeep or help, see property maintenance or book a visit.

What we check on a walkthrough

Gutter outlets and where downspouts send water.
Ground slope, low spots and soil height at the wall.
Sprinkler spray and wet soil when the system is off.
Drain paths, shared swales and safe places for water to leave.

Common questions

Sources

Pinellas County Government