Why sloped lots get crawl space water
Rain soaking into the hillside above a home moves downhill through the soil. When it reaches the foundation, it can seep in along the uphill wall or under the footing. Newer homes on graded lots can see this in their first few wet seasons as soil settles.
Drainage designed for slopes
- Drain pipe along the uphill foundation wall to intercept water
- Additional lines through any low areas where water collects
- Routing to a gravity outlet downhill if the site allows, or to a sump
- A new vapor barrier over the top
Sloped lots sometimes allow gravity drainage that flat lots don't — we'll check.
Outside first
On a hillside, gutters, downspouts and the grade on the uphill side have a big effect. We'll walk the outside and point out what's sending water toward the house.
Older homes near downtown
Camas homes from its mill-town years may have no drainage and old plastic. The approach is similar; the inspection just covers more ground.
What affects the scope in Camas
- Length of line along the uphill wall
- Whether a downhill gravity outlet is available
- Additional low areas to drain
- Shallow uphill clearance that may need a small dig out
- Barrier replacement afterward
Newer Camas homes
If your Camas home is fairly new, it may already have exterior footing drains installed when it was built. Those can clog or be overwhelmed, and they don't always catch everything. Interior crawl space drainage works alongside them. If you have plans or documentation from the builder showing what was installed, have them handy for the inspection.
Questions from Camas homeowners
Why is only one side of my Camas crawl space wet?
Usually it's the uphill side, or where roof water collects. We'll trace it.
Can my crawl space drain without a pump?
On many sloped lots, yes — we route drain pipes to a downhill outlet. Where there's no outlet, a sump pump moves the water out.
How do I get an estimate?
Getting started is easy. Call or text (360) 470-4956, or fill out the form on this page. We'll learn what's going on beneath your home, schedule a time to take a look, and give you a straightforward drainage estimate.