Care for Your Home's Foundation
One of the last things you ever want is water damage through your foundation. After storms, floods, or during the spring thaw, water can seep through the foundation and may cause electrical hazards. Sometimes this water seepage can lead to dangerous mold, further breaking down the foundation. ServiceMaster by Moline is here to tend to disasters but also to help prevent them.
Understanding the Water Table and Your Foundation
In the Midwest, watching the water table and frost line is crucial. In addition, watching how deep the ground has frozen in winter is essential as we gauge water run-off and prepare for potential flooding. Often a wet fall season can lead to the high moisture content in the soil. This is important when considering spring thaw because the moisture content will keep water from soaking into the ground in the spring. If the spring thaw can't be absorbed into the soil, it will pool above ground or alongside the foundation of buildings. With the temperature changes that come with spring in the midwest, this moisture can settle into small fissures or cracks in the foundation; when the water freezes can expand fissures and cracks and ultimately damage the foundation.
Step 1 - Create Good Drainage From Foundations
The first line of defense for keeping your basement from flooding is to ensure good run-off away from a building. Good run-off is traditionally six inches over a ten-foot span to keep water moving away from the foundation in the event of rain or moving water.
Keeping gutters clean is another essential step. If channels are total, spring thaw or a significant rain storm will dump sheets of water over the side of the house and straight into the ground, saturating the water near the foundation of the house and possibly eroding the soil and slope from the foundation.
Step 2 - Keep the Sump Pump Working
Sump basins gather water from rain or groundwater seepage into a collected place, and then a sump pump transfers the moisture out. Water may be pumped into sewage lines, storm drains, dry wells, or other areas outside the home.
In a monthly routine, testing the sump pump before the spring thaw each spring and again throughout the summer is essential. Things to try with the sump pump are power, the batter backup (necessary in a large storm that knocks out power), the float if the pump pumps water, and the hose is clear from debris from past storms or spring thaw. Sump pumps should be replaced in a pattern of three to five years.
Step 3 - Check for Foundation Leaks and Repair Them Immediately
Minor leaks can cause damage throughout a home but can significantly deteriorate a foundation. Check for leaks under sinks, behind toilets, and around washing machines. Also, look for dark spots where pipes drip on floors, ceilings, or walls. Ensure lower-level toilets are adequately sealed and don't rock against the foundation.
Another place where leaks start is on the roof. Ensure water is not trickling down from chimneys or around areas where a roof may meet an exterior wall. In addition, the top can affect the foundation because all water falls and water pooling against the foundation, even inside the home, can deteriorate walls and the foundation's integrity.
Step 4 - Inspect the Foundation
Take time to walk around the outside and inside of your home foundation. Look for gaps where the soil or landscaping meets the foundation on the exterior. Remove organic matter like weeds, trees, or other foliage that may decompose against the foundation. If there is a gap between the soil and the foundation, it is best to contact a landscape specialist to fill it in and ensure ample slope from home.
Inside the home, look for areas where there may be moisture build-up. This can be seen in spaces where doors or windows are swollen. In addition, mold may form on internal walls or areas with moisture. Mold not only harms the health of those occupying spaces in a home but is also known to deteriorate the foundation's integrity and may lead to more fissures and cracks where water can seep into the home.