This Is What Happens When A Downspout Splash Block Is Not Used

This is what happens when a downspout splash block is not used.

The downspout splash block is intended to divert water from the roof away from the house.

It protects the foundation, the ground around the house, and water is diverted onto graded soil and into the local water drainage.

They are necessary around most homes.

Beside this house, for some reason, all of the splash blocks had been removed from every downspout.

The associated damage was evident.

Large, gouged, eroded areas decorated the bottoms of each downspout ground pipe.

This was one of the two at the front of the house, beside the front porch.

This particular hole was 18" deep and 4' long!

Plus the eroded soil and mulch which ran down the hill.

Fortunately each front downspout ground pipe drained onto a fairly steep slope and away from the foundation.  The rear downspouts both drained beyond the basement slab, so water did not seem to be putting pressure onto the foundation walls, or infesting the house.

My recommendation:  it appeared that the splash blocks at this house had not been under the downspouts for some time.  Keeping them under each downspout ground pipe would have been such a simple solution to an ugly problem!  And now it will take some work to make the place look good again.  Splash blocks are highly recommended!  Use them!