Hey everyone! My wife and I just bought a century-old home, and I'm grappling with an issue related to the downspout drain near the foundation. There's a video linked [here](https://imgur.com/a/krcKR7f) showing the situation. The shrubs in that area are next to the neighbor's driveway, and the walkway is frequented by our garbage company, so I want to avoid obstructing it. I'm considering options, like putting a splash block under the downspout, but I'm worried that might cause water to flow back into the window wells nearby. Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated!
2 Answers
You can often tunnel under the walkway fairly easily. Just use a good spray nozzle on your hose to help get through. It might save you a lot of hassle in the long run without having to open up the concrete.
Honestly, splash blocks are really just a short-term solution. They're like trying to use a tiny umbrella during a massive storm. The best approach is to dig and extend the downspout pipe. If that's too tricky, you might want to look into a rain barrel to manage the excess water. Otherwise, you're risking water just moving a few feet away before it runs back into your window wells. It might seem like extra work, but preventing future basement flooding is so worth it.
Appreciate the tips! I might have to consider a rain barrel as a temporary fix. Digging and running a pipe sounds ideal, but it’s a costly project right now, so I'm looking for alternatives!
This is definitely the right approach, thanks for sharing!