Effects Winter Can Have on Your Foundation & Basement
Winter is a harsh season. Heavy snowfall and biting winds make for difficult travel and painful dry skin. If you’re a homeowner in Northern Virginia, you know the struggle of dealing with winter weather’s effects on your home, too. You’ve likely stocked your garage with extra snow shovels and deicing salt and made a list of everything you need to get done before the first snowfall. Something you might not think about until disaster strikes, however, is your foundation.
The freezing weather of winter can do a number on your foundation and cause serious issues. Make sure you’re prepared before winter begins. Here are a few foundation issues to look out for this winter season:
Foundation Cracks
Extreme cold and ice can increase the amount of cracks or other damages in your foundation. If you already have foundation cracks—even seemingly harmless hairline cracks—snow and water may get inside these cracks and freeze. The continuous freezing and unfreezing of water in or near your foundation may make these cracks even worse. New cracks may also easily form with varying temperatures and bad weather.
Basement Leaks
Whether this winter will be full of heavy snowfall, ice storms, or regular rain, you are sure to face an increase of wet weather in the coming months. All this extra wetness, of course, means that your basement is at risk of some leaks or even floods. Foundation cracks are sure to give water a passageway into your home, but before the weather gets too cold, make sure the soil around your foundation is sloped properly so that melting snow will flow away from your home.
Frost Heave
Frost heave is a nasty winter problem. Frost heave occurs when the soil around your home’s foundation freezes. The frozen soil will expand upwards and push closer to your foundation, which puts extra pressure on your foundation walls. This extra pressure can easily cause new cracks to form, which can cause more serious structural issues down the line.
Frozen Sump Pump Discharge Line
Is your home equipped with a sump pump? It’s a good idea to give it a quick inspection before winter really begins in full force. The discharge line that helps carry water out of your home should be angled properly to ensure water does not remain in the line and freeze. Make sure it is angled downward so that the water will easily flow through it.
Prepare for Winter with Basement Waterproofing!
NV Waterproofing offers basement waterproofing and foundation crack repairs in Northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Our highly-trained and experienced team members can help you prepare your foundation for a long and harsh winter. If you currently do not have effective basement or yard waterproofing in place, we will ensure you are protected. If you have cracks in your foundation, we will fill them and keep snow and ice outside where they belong.
Make sure your house can stand up to the worst that winter has to offer this year. Call us today at 1-703-690-3889 to learn more about basement waterproofing in Northern Virginia.
