When winter hits, the temperature drops, and it can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. The freezing and thawing cycle of winter can cause damage to the soil around your foundation due to moisture build-up in the soil. This can lead to a variety of problems with your foundation, which can be dangerous and costly to repair. Let's look at how freezing and thawing affect your home foundation and what steps you should take to protect it.
The Basics of Freezing and Thawing
Water expands when it freezes, so when water gets into small cracks in the soil or foundation of your home, it can cause them to enlarge as the water freezes. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on any small cracks in your walls or ceilings that could introduce water into the soil around your house. Also, if there is a large amount of snow near your house, this will also mean more moisture in the soil as it melts off during warmer days.
The Effects on Your Home Foundation
During the winter in New England, the temperature drops below freezing, causing water in the soil around your home’s foundation to freeze and expand. This expansion pushes up against the foundation, putting pressure on it from the outside. As temperatures start to rise above freezing, the water in the soil begins to thaw. This melting process causes the soil to contract, which creates a void between the soil and your home’s foundation.
When this happens, it compromises the strength of your foundation, making it more susceptible to damage caused by shifting or settling ground. If left unchecked, this can eventually lead to cracks in your foundation walls or floors, which can be costly and time-consuming to repair. Furthermore, these cracks create entry points for water into your home—which will further exacerbate any problems with moisture buildup or flooding in your basement or crawl space.
What Can You Do?
The best way to protect your home from damage caused by freezing and thawing is prevention. Make sure all outside areas are free from debris that may accumulate water, such as leaves or sticks, as this will help keep extra moisture away from your foundation. It’s also important to check for signs of water damage regularly and to seal any cracks you may find immediately before they have a chance to expand further. Regularly checking for any signs of wear is essential in helping prevent major repairs down the line! If you are unsure of what to look for, call a foundation repair company to come have a look.
Freezing and thawing cycles during the colder months can wreak havoc on a home's foundation if proper precautions aren't taken beforehand. Keeping an eye out for potential water infiltration points such as leaky pipes or damaged roofs is key in preventing serious damage from occurring due to moisture buildup in the soil around your house's foundation. Regularly inspecting for signs of cracking or shifting is also important if you want to ensure that you don't need major repairs down the line! Taking these simple steps will go a long way towards protecting one of a homeowner's most valuable assets – their house!