Standing Water in Your Yard: Causes & Fixes

Every time it rains, does your yard fill up with excess water like a swamp? Many homeowners worry about standing water, and it may be a drainage issue. Standing water can damage your home’s foundation, create a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and kill your grass and plants. The good news is that if you can identify these common standing-water problems, you can fix them with the right approach.

At Murfreesboro Drain Services, we diagnose and solve yard drainage problems for homeowners in Murfreesboro and surrounding areas of Rutherford County, Tennessee. In this article, we’ll cover the common causes of standing water, what signs to watch for, and an appropriate solution for each to help your yard drain properly.

Causes of Standing Water in the Yard

Stagnant water in your yard may form because of overwatering or too much rainwater collecting in one area. If the problem keeps persisting, you may have a drainage issue. Here are the common causes.

Poor Yard Grading

Your yard should slope to direct rainwater away from your house and toward a street or proper drainage area. If your yard is too flat, has a low point, or slopes toward your house, excess water will collect quickly, and the surface won’t drain it properly. As a result, some parts of your yard can stay wet and muddy after rain.

Signs to Look Out For

• Water keeps collecting in the same area after rain.
• Water moves toward your house instead of away from it.
• Standing water started appearing after construction or landscaping work.
• You might notice a wet spot where the yard used to drain normally.

The Solution

If you notice a low point in your yard, fill that area with soil and reshape it so water doesn’t collect there. Or, if your yard slopes toward your property, it may need regrading to create a proper drainage path so excess water can drain away.

However, some grading problems may persist even if you fix the slope, such as a spot still receiving too much water or soil that drains slowly. You may need a drainage solution to collect the water and move it away from that area.

Your Sprinkler May Be Overwatering The Area

Your sprinkler system may be causing the standing water in your yard. Many homeowners have sprinklers in their backyard to water the grass or plants. If a sprinkler gets damaged, it may leak too much water, and if it continues like that for a long time, the water can start pooling in that area. A leaking underground water pipe can keep the area wet even when it hasn’t rained much.

Signs to Look Out For

• A part of your lawn stays wet even when it has not rained recently.
• Water may be pooling around one of the sprinkler heads.
• One of your sprinklers keeps running and doesn’t shut off properly.
• One part of your lawn looks much wetter than the rest.

The Solution

The easiest way to fix this issue is to check which sprinkler is leaking and spraying too much water. Check the sprinkler head to see whether it is damaged; if it is, replace or repair it as soon as possible. If you have a rotating sprinkler, also check whether it’s stuck and spraying too much water in a specific part of your lawn.

A leaking underground pipe can also cause standing water in your yard. That excess water can keep the affected area wet and cause water pooling.

Groundwater Is Too Close to the Surface

Sometimes groundwater is too close to the surface of your yard. It is called a high water table. If the ground underneath is already saturated, rainwater may not be able to soak into the soil. This can cause water to get stuck on the surface and eventually create standing water.

Signs to Look Out For

• Your yard can stay wet for several days even after the rain has stopped.
• One part of your yard stays wet while the rest of the lawn dries out completely.
• You may notice wet or soggy soil during a period with little recent rainfall.
• You may notice water rising from beneath the ground in low areas of your yard.

The Solution

If groundwater is too close to the surface, installing a drainage system such as a French drain can help remove water from the saturated area. A French drain is installed underground to collect excess water and direct it away from the affected area to an appropriate drainage location.

Leaking Underground Water Line

A buried water line, such as an outdoor faucet or other water connection on your property, can be damaged or leak, causing excess water to flow into your yard. If the damaged pipe isn’t fixed in time, the area above the surface will get wet and eventually create standing water, even after a long dry spell.

Signs to Look Out For

• You might notice an unusual rise in your water bill, even if you haven’t used much water.
• You may hear water flowing even when you’ve turned off all outdoor faucets and other water sources.
• A damaged or leaking underground pipe can create a wet or muddy area above the buried pipe.
• Grass above a leaking underground pipe may grow faster than the rest of your yard.

The Solution

If you suspect a leaking underground pipeline, call a professional to inspect the area and locate the leak. Once the damaged section is found, the pipe can be repaired or replaced.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes you can fix a simple standing water issue yourself, such as cleaning debris and dirt from gutters and drain covers, adding a downspout extension to carry excess rainwater away from your property, or filling a low point in your yard with soil. If this simple DIY work can solve the standing water issues, then great; you may not need professional help.

However, if you still can’t solve it or the problem keeps coming back, a professional like Murfreesboro Drain Services can inspect your property and help you find the cause. Problems such as underground water-line leaks, poor grading, or other drainage issues often need professional help to find and fix the source of standing water.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Is standing water in my yard a serious problem?

Yes, standing water can be a problem if it stays in your yard for a long time. It can damage your grass and plants, allow mosquitoes to breed, and even damage your home’s foundation. A small puddle after rain isn’t a major concern if it drains away over time. But if the same area repeatedly floods, it is worth finding the cause.

How long should standing water stay in my yard after rain?

Standing water can stay in your yard for 24 to 48 hours, which is quite normal after heavy rainfall. But if the water stays in that spot longer than that, you may have a drainage issue. This underlying problem can depend on several factors such as the soil, grading, amount of rainfall, and other drainage conditions around your yard.

Can I fix standing water in my yard myself?

Yes, you can fix some standing water problems with simple DIY solutions. You can clear gutters and drain covers, add a downspout extension, or even fill a small low spot in your yard with soil. If it still doesn’t solve the issue, then you will need professional help.

How do I get rid of standing water in my yard?

The best way to get rid of standing water in your yard is to find and fix the reason the water is flooding in that area. This could mean fixing the yard’s grading, improving drainage, repairing a leaking water line, or adjusting an overwatering problem. It is best to inspect the area first, such as where it is coming from and why it is not draining properly. Once you identify the problem, you can choose a solution that moves water away from the affected area.