Australia has a very odd climate that can see four seasons occur almost within the same day. It is not uncommon for heavy rain to be followed by extreme heat and, when it storms, again followed by hail or rain. This, of course, can become quite dangerous and not just from the initial ran or hail damage. When a large amount of water is dumped on your property in such a short period of time, it can build up and cause serious damage to your home's foundations as well as to any of the exterior walls that it pools up against. Luckily, there is a tool you can install to eliminate this risk.
Soakwells
A soakwell is a concrete construction that acts as a temporary water tank beneath the ground. During a heavy rainstorm, your gutters and storm drains will direct the heavy flow of water to the soakwell which then disperses the water into the softer and more absorbent soils below. This completely eliminates the risk of structural damage from the excess amounts of water, and with a few strategically placed soakwells, you can ensure your property is never at risk from the rain again.
How Can Water Structurally Damage My Property Anyway?
Many houses in Australia are built on strong, mostly impermeable topsoil that is very solid and good to set your foundations in. One of the negatives of this is that because the soil is so compacted, it often takes a long time for water to disperse in it. This is when you see the water build up that is common after heavy rainfall. The problem is that this water, before it is dispersed, can wash away and erode the topsoil and weaken the concrete foundations. If the soil underneath or around foundations is too badly eroded, then the concrete can crack, causing you a lot of structural issues and a big bill to fix it.
Where Do I Put The Soakwells To Avoid This?
Putting a soakwell so that your gutters can empty into it is essential, as this heavy flow of water is often the most damaging. Otherwise, you should put the soakwells where you know water is the most likely to gather. If your home is at the bottom of a slight incline, then you should put the soakwells between the house and the hill so that water does not flood from above. If you are unsure about where the best locations for your soakwells are, you should simply communicate this to any of the soakwell installers you might be engaging. They will know the best places for them and how to fully maximise a soakwells performance.
