Exterior · moderate safety risk
Check downspout discharge
Confirm roof runoff is visibly directed away from the foundation without creating a new hazard.
- How often
- Twice a year and during heavy rain
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Editorial status
- Awaiting human review
Before you begin
Tools
- Flashlight
How to do it
- Walk the perimeter and identify where each accessible downspout discharges.
- Look for missing extensions, erosion, pooled water, settlement, or discharge back toward the foundation.
- During safe rainfall, observe for overflow or leaking joints from a distance.
- Document concerns and confirm an approved discharge solution before changing connected drainage.
Stop and get help when
- Foundation pooling
- Severe erosion
- Basement water
- Loose overhead gutter
- Icy walking surface
Use a drainage, gutter, or foundation professional for buried connections, repeated pooling, major settlement, inaccessible gutters, or water entering the building.
Sources and review
Written by Upkeeping editorial team. This draft is awaiting human subject-matter and safety review and is not eligible for search indexing.