Can I just disconnect my downspouts and let them drain on the lawn?

Sometimes, if the water can flow well away from the house. In our clay soil, though, water dumped near the foundation often soaks down along the wall. An extension or properly routed line is usually the better choice.

How often should underground downspouts be cleaned?

There's no set schedule. Check them after heavy storms and each fall after the leaves drop. If you see overflow or pooling, have them looked at.

Will tree roots come back after jetting?

They can, if the pipe still has cracks or loose joints. A camera inspection after cleaning shows whether a section should be replaced.

Is a wet basement always an emergency?

Standing water, a failed sump pump or water near electrical equipment should be handled right away. Dampness after storms is worth checking soon, before it gets worse.

Underground Downspouts in Delaware County: Why They Clog, Signs of Trouble, and What It Costs to Fix

Most homes around Delaware County have gutters that empty into pipes buried in the yard. When those lines work, you never think about them. When they don't, rainwater ends up where you least want it: against your foundation and sometimes in your basement.

Here's what we see in local yards, how to tell if your lines are in trouble and what goes into the cost of fixing them.

Why Underground Downspouts Clog Here

Clay soil. Much of central Ohio sits on heavy clay. It drains slowly, holds water and shifts as it gets wet and dries out. That movement can pull joints apart or push a pipe out of line, and once a joint opens, soil washes in.

Debris from the roof. Leaves, seed pods, shingle grit and the occasional tennis ball wash straight down the downspout. Over time it settles in the low spots and elbows of the buried line.

Roots. Tree and shrub roots go looking for water. A small crack or loose joint is all they need to get in and grow into a dense mat.

Crushed or thin pipe. Many downspout lines are thin, corrugated or lightweight plastic pipe buried shallow. Vehicles, equipment, landscaping work or frost heave can flatten or crack it.

Disconnected or buried ends. Sometimes the line was never run to a proper outlet. It ends in the middle of the yard, ties into something it shouldn't, or the pop-up emitter at the end got buried under mulch or sod.

Signs Your Downspout Lines Are in Trouble

Gutters overflow during heavy rain, even when they're clean. Water has nowhere to go, so it backs up and spills over.
Water bubbles up or pools at the base of the downspout where it enters the ground.
Washouts in mulch beds or soil near the house.
A wet basement or damp walls on the same side of the house as a particular downspout.
Soft spots or small sinkholes along the path of the line or near a pop-up emitter. That can mean a broken pipe is washing soil away underground.
A pop-up emitter that never pops up after a good rain.

Simple Checks You Can Do Yourself

Clean the gutters first. A clogged gutter can look like a bad downspout line.
Run a garden hose into the downspout. Watch where the water goes. If it backs up at the top of the line or never shows up at the outlet, there's a blockage or break.
Find the outlet. Walk the yard and look for the pop-up emitter or open pipe end. Clear any mulch, sod or debris covering it.
Look at the boot. Make sure the downspout is still seated in the underground fitting and hasn't pulled loose.

If water comes out at the other end freely, the line is probably fine. If not, it's time for a closer look.

How We Repair Underground Downspouts

Camera inspection. We run a small camera through the line to see the problem: a clog, roots, a crushed section or a separated joint. You see what we see, so you're not guessing.

Jetting. For clogs and roots in a line that's still in good shape, high-pressure water can clear it out without digging.

Replacing a section. If one part of the line is broken or crushed, we can often dig up and replace just that section.

Replacing or re-routing the line. When the pipe is undersized, damaged in several places or was installed poorly, a new line with solid pipe and a proper outlet is the lasting fix. Re-routing to a pop-up emitter or another approved discharge point moves water far enough from the house to do its job.

What Affects the Cost

We use up-front pricing, so you'll see and approve the price before any work begins. Every yard is different, and here's what moves the price up or down:

The cause. Clearing a clog costs less than replacing pipe.
How much line needs work. A short section is a smaller job than a full run from the house to the yard.
How deep and where the pipe is buried. Lines under driveways, patios, walkways or mature landscaping take more care to reach.
Pipe material. Upgrading from thin corrugated pipe to solid pipe changes the materials list.
Where the water goes. Running a new line to a pop-up emitter or another outlet adds length and digging.
Restoration. Replacing sod, mulch or pavers after the work.

We'll walk you through good, better and best options, and financing is available.

When It's Not the Downspout

Not every wet basement is a downspout problem. A few other common causes:

Grading. If the soil slopes toward the house, water will run to the foundation no matter where the downspout empties.
Sump pump issues. A failed pump, stuck float or frozen discharge line can let water rise in the basement.
Window wells. Wells without covers or drains can fill and leak.
Plumbing leaks. A leaking supply line or drain inside the wall can look like groundwater.

Our plumbers will look at the whole picture, not just the pipe, and tell you honestly where the water is coming from.

Schedule an Inspection

If your gutters are overflowing or your basement gets wet after storms, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Delaware or book online. We're The Punctual Plumber: if we're late, we pay you $5 a minute, up to $300. Our licensed plumbers (Ohio License #12313) offer up-front pricing and a 100% satisfaction guarantee across the Delaware County area.