I'm facing a frustrating situation with water damage in my house. After discovering multiple leaks in the kitchen from the sink and dishwasher, we've had to cut out sections of the floor, subfloor, and drywall to repair the damage. The repair team initially cleaned out my crawlspace, but after a week of waiting for readings, they said I needed to get the water shop-vacuumed out since fans wouldn't dry it properly. After this was finally done, we had a heavy rain, and now more water has appeared, leading to the need for a French drain. I've already spent a lot of money on repairs, and I'm wondering if my homeowners insurance can help with this. Is a French drain absolutely necessary before I can move forward with fixing my kitchen? Any advice would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It sounds like you've got a serious drainage problem, especially since you're seeing more water after it rains. I'd suggest checking your outdoor drainage setup first—the water might be coming from downspouts that aren't directing water far enough away from your foundation. If your house is on a slope, having proper drainage measures like retaining walls is crucial.
When we dealt with a similar issue, we dug our own French drain following a YouTube video, which made things much easier. Also, consider if you have a sump pump in your crawlspace. It's not too hard to install one yourself if you want to be proactive about flood prevention. Definitely get multiple opinions on this to ensure you're getting the best advice...and to avoid getting ripped off!
Plus, putting in cameras in the crawlspace can help you see exactly where the water might be sneaking in from!
Totally understand your concerns! I didn't realize how crucial gutters were either until I had problems. They can really make a difference in how water is directed away from the foundation, and without them, you're asking for issues. Don't feel bad about not thinking of it sooner; being a first-time homeowner is a learning curve! It's good you're getting quotes for gutters now.