How Does Winter Affect Foundations?
Winter is Harsh on Home Foundations
What causes foundation problems during winter?
The two main culprits for damage to your foundation during winter are frost heaves and frozen pipes.
Essentially, the cold mixed with water is not a good combination when it comes to foundation health.
Frost Heaves
Frost heaves is the upward swelling of soil during freezing conditions caused by the presence of ice forming in the soil.
Water expands as it freezes, so it forces the soil in various directions.
The pressure from the soil on the foundation is what can cause the damage.
Winter Causes Frozen Pipes
You may be thinking, how do frozen pipes cause foundation damage?
Well, let’s go through what happens when pipes freeze.
First, the temperature will drop to at least 20°F, which will cause your pipes to potentially freeze if they are not properly insulated.
Next, the water pressure will build in the pipes.
When the pressure becomes strong enough, the pipes will burst.
The burst pipes will then begin to leak water very quickly. If this goes unnoticed, in the basement or in the walls, the water will begin to deteriorate the walls.
Foundation cracks could occur if the water damage remains unnoticed or ignored.
How to Protect Foundations During Winter
Now that you understand the potential cold weather has to cause foundation problems, let’s discuss different things you can do to help prevent these things from happening.
Clean Gutters
Many homeowners first think that their roof is essential for proper water drainage, while this is true, gutters are a vital tool in the foundation’s health as well. If the gutters aren’t clear, the water will not be drained properly. Instead of the melting water being directed away from the home, it will drop straight down to the foundation of the house.
Slope Soil
As mentioned earlier, throughout the winter, the soil is constantly expanding and contracting. This is important to remember for landscaping purposes. The soil around the home should be sloping downward, away from the foundation.
Insulate Pipes
Keeping pipes from freezing can be tricky when you live in certain areas of the United States. Insulating pipes is one way to help the pipes from freezing. Homeowners should also keep the home at a minimum of 55°F during winter, especially if they are going to be out of town.
Inspect Foundation
Homeowners should stay on top of their foundation’s health. Examine their foundation regularly, especially if they see any warning signs.
Pay Attention to the Warning Signs
Warning signs could be cracks in the walls or floors, doors that used to open and shut with ease now get jammed or won’t close properly, and windows that won’t close all the way that used to be fine.