The Winter Season is closing in and the change in weather conditions can effect your home’s foundation. In Omaha, the Winters are cold and wet which can cause foundation problems. Here are a few things to look for in your home.
Foundation Cracks
Small hairline cracks in your home’s foundation are a common occurrence in most homes. However, the freezing weather that occurs in the winter can accelerate these cracks. If there is too much moisture in the ground, it can freeze and expand, which can add pressure to your foundation walls. Excessive pressure can cause cracks to form and expand, which weakens the structural integrity and can lead to water leaks.
Frozen Discharge Line
In homes with a sump pump, you should check your discharge line often to be sure the line is not frozen. Sump pumps are vital to ensuring your crawl space or basement doesn’t flood. The discharge line pumps the excess water to away from your home. But if the line freezes, the water is forced back into the home. Be sure the line is sloped away from the house so that water will not pool near the base of our home. This will also help the line to not freeze.
Excessive Moisture
In areas that receive a lot of snow, sometimes the foundation issues will not occur until the snow melts. Once the snow melts, the excess water built up in the soil can seep into the basement. If you notice any signs of problems or have water leaking into your basement or crawl space, give us a call.
At Water Solutions, we wrote an article on foundation repair tips for the Winter. Read more about them here. Contact us for more information.