A Five Minute Read

Hello Honey Badgers!

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It's April which means April Showers.

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One of the most important tasks as a homeowner is keeping water out and away from your home. Water that pools around your foundation may cause costly damage that costs thousands to repair.

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Next rain you have, grab your rainboots and check these critical areas:

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Gutter Downspouts

• Make sure water flows easily from the gutter downspouts
• Confirm water from downspouts travels at least 3 feet away from your foundation
• ACTION: Add downspout extensions if water discharges too close to your home

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Gutters

Check for water coming from the gutter body or seams:

• Gutter body: Look for water escaping from cracks or holes
• Gutter seams: Check for leaks around joints, end caps, and connecting pieces
• Everywhere: Watch for water overflowing the top (a sign of clogging)
• ACTION: Clean gutters that overflow; seal small leaks with gutter sealant; replace severely damaged sections. Check out our chapter on gutters if you need more help.

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Overall Water Flow Around the House

• Verify that rain moves consistently away from the house
• Look for unusual water patterns or pooling around the foundation
• ACTION: Address pooling areas with quick drainage solutions like French drains or dry wells.

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After a Heavy Rain

Walk your property once the rain stops.

• Note any areas with standing water, especially near the foundation
• ACTION: Consider re-grading areas where water consistently pools

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On a Beautiful Day: Check Your Slope

Your yard should have enough slope for water to flow away from your home's foundation. Ideally, aim for a 5% slope—meaning the ground 10 feet away is about 6 inches lower than the ground at your foundation.

• Tools Needed: Mallet, 2 wooden stakes, 12+ feet of nylon string (less likely to sag), Line level, Measuring tape

Measuring Your Slope:

1. Drive one stake next to your foundation and another 10 feet away
2. 2. Tie string between them, using the level to ensure it's horizontal
3. At each stake, measure the distance between the ground and the string
4. Calculate: (Foundation height – 10 feet out height) ÷ Distance of string × 100 = % slope. Hate math? I made you a calculator: Find the Slope​
5. Repeat in different areas of your yard with noticeably different slopes

Target: Aim for a minimum 3% slope away from your foundation, with 5% being ideal. To learn more, watch this video: How To Find Grade | Drainage And Landscaping​

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Check out the Course

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April Tasks

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Reoccurring Tasks

1. If you have a water softener, take a peek at those salt levels.
2. Is it time to change your HVAC filter? When you are done, mark it in your calendar and order new ones if needed.
3. Have a septic tank? Add in your treatment tablets.
4. Test your GFCI outlets.

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Maintain

1. Clean those gutters.
2. Check the weather stripping on your exterior doors.
3. Wash the siding, brick, and/or concrete.

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Prep

Haven't been keeping up with home maintenance? Keep it simple and just do these tasks to start. These tasks are the one and done tasks you can do that will make future maintenance and DIY task so much easier.

1. New? Join one of our orientation sessions.
2. Find and label your water and gas valves.
3. Organize the files related to your home.
4. Create a home maintenance budget for your home.
5. Be ready for messes. Check the fire extinguishers, make a rag basket, store old toothbrushes, and make some disposable buckets.

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Need help with any of those tasks? There is much more information inside our community.

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Need more help? Join Today