If downspouts terminate at the foundation of a house, they can cause water to pool near the foundation, leading to problems with the home’s drainage system and potentially causing flooding in the basement or crawl space. Water that accumulates near the foundation can also cause erosion, which can weaken the foundation over time. To prevent these issues, it is important to install gutters and downspouts on homes in a way that directs rainwater away from the foundation, using piping that carries the water to a sloping final grade at least 5 feet from the foundation or to an underground drainage system.