Resources
Storm-season yard drainage checklist
One printable page to walk the yard with before spring storms and after leaf drop.
This checklist from Rein Irving Drainage Company covers the checks most likely to catch a problem before a storm finds it: gutters and buried downspout lines, catch basins and channel drains, every outlet on the lot, the grade at the slab, and a sump pump if you have one. It ends with what to watch during the first big storm, because the most useful inspection is watching where the water actually goes.
May is the wettest month at DFW Airport, and drains fail in one-hour bursts rather than all-day drizzle. Most items are maintenance a homeowner can do. If a line will not flush or ground stays wet over a drain, see drainage repair or the spring storm checklist post for the reasoning behind each step.
