Free tool
Why is my yard wet? A five-question drainage check
Water that sits against the foundation, in a low spot or on a slope has a short list of usual causes. Answer five questions about where it sits, how long it stays and which way the ground falls, and this page ranks the likely causes, tells you what to check first and links the service that covers each one.
What is going on in your yard?
Five questions, about two minutes. You get the likely causes in order, what to check first and the service page that covers the fix. Your answers are not stored or sent; analytics records only that the check finished and which cause ranked first.
This tool is educational. It cannot see your property, so treat the result as a place to start looking, not a diagnosis. Water coming into the house from a pipe or a failed appliance is a plumber's first call.
How does the drainage check work?
You answer five plain questions. The page scores your answers against common causes of wet yards on Northern Virginia lots, where clay soil holds water and older grading has settled. It shows the top three in order, with one thing to check for each. Your answers are not stored, and the tool never asks for an address or a phone number.
It is not a diagnosis. Only a visit shows what the ground is doing. Use the result to look in the right place, and use the guides on yard drainage, downspout lines and French drains to see how each fix works and what it typically costs.
What causes the most wet yards?
These are the outdoor causes the tool weighs, and what each one looks like.
Roof water at the foundation
Downspouts that empty within a few feet of the house load the same strip of soil every storm. It is often the simplest cause to fix and easy to miss.
Grade that falls toward the house
Soil settles after construction, mulch builds up and beds get raised. Ground that should fall away from the wall ends up flat or tilted toward it.
A low pocket with no outlet
On clay a low spot fills and stays full because the soil under it takes water in slowly. A drain needs somewhere lower to send the water.
Water moving through the soil
A slope, a seasonal high water table or a spring keeps ground wet long after rain. It shows as a wet band along a slope or a spot wetter in spring.
A leak that keeps one patch wet
Wet ground in dry weather can point to an irrigation line, a stuck valve or a supply leak. A drain will not fix a leak, which is why the tool asks.
Hardscape pitched the wrong way
A patio or walkway that sank or was set flat sheds water toward the house or holds it in a dip against the wall.
What should you note before you call anyone?
Ten minutes in the next rain gives any contractor, including us, far more to work with.
- Photograph the wet area from two sides, with the house in the frame.
- Note how many hours or days the water stays after a normal rain.
- Watch where each downspout empties and take a short video during rain.
- Mark the lowest spot and the nearest lower ground or storm inlet.
- Note whether the spot is wet in a dry week, which suggests a leak.
- Write down any water or dampness inside, and when it appears.
Common questions
Does this tool replace a site visit?
No. It points you toward the likely cause from five answers. It cannot see slope, soil or buried pipes. A visit measures the grade, finds the outlet options and checks the downspout lines before anyone recommends a fix or writes a price.
Does the tool store my answers?
No. The scoring runs in your browser and your answers are not saved or sent. If site analytics is active, it records only that the check was finished and which cause ranked first. It does not include your individual answers or any contact detail.
What if water is coming into my basement?
If water enters from a pipe or an appliance, call a plumber first. If it follows rain, exterior drainage is usually part of the fix, and our guide to exterior basement water fixes explains the order of work. Water inside a house always deserves a professional look.
Can I send photos instead of describing the problem?
Yes. The estimate form accepts photos of the wet area, the downspouts and the house wall. Photos taken in the rain, with the house in frame, help us prepare the right questions before the visit.
Related services
Yard & Foundation Drainage
Yard drainage solutions collect and redirect surface water with grading, swales, catch basins, channel drains and dry wells so rain leaves the lawn and moves away from the house.
Downspout & Sump Discharge Lines
Downspout drainage is buried solid pipe that carries roof water from each downspout, and the discharge from a sump pump, to a pop-up emitter or other outlet well away from the house.
French Drain Installation
A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe, wrapped in filter fabric, that collects water moving through the soil and carries it to a safe outlet.
Irrigation Upgrades & Smart Controllers
An irrigation upgrade improves a sprinkler system you already own instead of replacing it: a Wi-Fi, weather-based controller, pressure-regulated heads, efficient nozzles, drip lines in planting beds and repairs to weak zones.
Let's talk about your yard.
Tell us what you have in mind. We will walk the property with you, explain your options plainly and put the scope and price in writing.
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