10/29/2026
⚡ EL INSPECTOR vs. THE DOWNSPOUT MONSTER ⚡
Meet the villain at the corner of the house: the downspout with NO extension.
Its claim to fame? "I DUMP IT RIGHT HERE!" — every drop of roof water dumped straight at the foundation. One inch of rain on a 1,000 sq ft roof = over 600 gallons, soaking in right where it can pool and push on foundation walls: leaks, cracks, damp basements.
🔎 SPOT IT: Downspout ends AT the foundation. No extension, no splash block. Erosion trench at the base.
⚠️ FIX: Extend downspouts 4-6 feet away from the foundation, so water lands past the loose backfill soil.
Realtors: drainage is one of the cheapest fixes with the biggest payoff. CASA flags it early so it never becomes your buyer's surprise. đź’ŞđźŹ