Q. A corner of my garden has poor drainage and I have lost a lot of plants there over the years. A friend told me to put in a dry well. What is a dry well and will that help? A. A dry well is unlikely ...

DEAR TIM: My last house had a basement that leaked water. I’m building a new home and want my basement as dry as the Atacama Desert. I’m confident that my drain tile was not put in correctly at my ...

A “drain tile” refers to a system of perforated pipes laid along the foundation, inside or outside. Also known as French drains or perimeter drains, these system channels water away from the home.

Timothy has written about personal finance, including detailed home renovation and repair cost guides, since 2017. His work covers everything from plumbing and roofing to solar and pest control. Find ...