Prepare Your Home's Foundation for Winter

Nov 09, 2023

Don't Neglect the Maintenance of Your Home's Foundation as the Temps Begin to Drop

Kansas City will begin the winter weather sooner than we think. From the freezing temperatures, rain, snow, sleet, then 70 degree temperatures... all without even 48 hours, we would like to offer some tips that will help you prepare your home's foundation for winter.

Just think about the drastic changes in temperature alone. We may have a beautiful, sunny 70-degree day in mid-January, immediately followed by a sub-zero day with sleet and snow. The drastic temperature changes (paired with the freeze/thaw cycle) can really wreak havoc on your home, especially the concrete and foundation supporting your home's structure. The back and forth in temperature and precipitation could potentially compromise your home's structural integrity. We are here to explain how, why, and what homeowners can do to understand when to reach out for a free foundation estimate.

Just like concrete, your home's foundation can sustain damage from the repeated expansion and contraction caused from the thaw and freeze cycle that typically happens in the Midwest winter. This repeated fluctuation of temperatures can cause pressure, leading the foundation to shift or crack, resulting in further damage to your home's foundation. The impact can be seen visually through cracks throughout your home - in the walls, above doorways, above windows, in the basement walls, or even along the exterior foundation. When you begin to notice these cracks, this is an indication that you should begin to reach out to a reputable foundation repair company in your area. If you're in the Kansas City area, PierMagic is the highest rated foundation repair company (based upon Google reviews!) that offers free estimates.

A rule of thumb for your home's foundation is that once the temperature outside reaches below 40 degrees for three consecutive days, the greater chance your foundation will sustain damage. If you're familiar with Kansas City winters, you know we often have temperatures under 40 degrees for several days in a row, if not weeks in a row. Check out the below tips that will help your home's foundation stay healthy, stable, and safe throughout the changing of the seasons.

Tip 1: Sump Pump Maintenance

One key to maintaining your home is to schedule sump pump maintenance annually.

According to American Family Insurance's article titled "Sump Pump Winter Maintenance," Test your pump regularly. Run some water through it during the winter to make sure it’s still functional. When that big snowmelt comes, you’ll be glad you made sure your sump pump is working. And if you removed the hose earlier, make sure to reattach it before you test.

Make sure your discharge pipe gets rid of water away from your home. Your pump’s discharge pipe’s job is to take the water from the sump pump and dispose of it away from your home. If it’s too close, that water could keep seeping back into your sump, causing your sump pump to run continuously. And your pump will have even more hardship to deal with if that water were to freeze. Experts recommend that water be discharged at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation.

https://www.amfam.com/resources/articles/at-home/sump-pump-winter-maintenance

Tip 2: Clean Your Gutters

The reason gutters are so important is that they direct the water away from your home. The typical residential roof can potentially withstand roughly 2,000 gallons of water. If your home doesn’t have gutters, all of this water will just sit next to your foundation. But gutters won’t be able to do their job if they are clogged with leaves, sticks, or any of nature’s leftover residue. So if your home rests beneath a few large trees, you should regularly check on the cleanliness of your gutters. PierMagic also recommends adding downspouts (and downspout extenders) that are adjacent to roof valleys.

Tip 3: Keep Snow Away from your Foundation

Snow typically brings below freezing temperatures, which results in cracking concrete. Then when the snow and ice melts, the water will seep into the cracks and puddle around your home's foundation. When the water soaks into the soil under your home and the temperatures drop again, the water freezes, widening the cracks with the pressure of the freeze.

Here are a few suggestions for implementing a solution to keep your home's foundation safe and strong during winter.

#1: Winterize your basement and crawl space. The crew at PierMagic specializes in crawl space encapsulation so the water won't seep under the home. There are several solutions that PierMagic can offer, including a wall anchor, crawl space encapsulation, or waterproofing solutions. Reach out for a free estimate within the Kansas City area (Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood, Shawnee, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Oak Grove, Grandview, Raymore, Belton, Peculiar, Harrisonville, Liberty, and Parkville).

#2: Develop drainage solutions that fit your specific needs by means of a sump pump or french drain. The expansive clay soils in the Kansas City area make an installation of a sump pump a necessity to ensure dry basements, and prevent mold and mildew. A sump pump is simply a pit dug below your basement floor to collect water before it can surround your foundation. A sump pit fills and automatically pumps out excess water until the water level is no longer rising. This keeps the soil around the foundation from becoming saturated and swelling. Another option is french drains.

Improper drainage is one of the leading causes of foundation failure. Constant moisture in concentrated spots can cause the soil to settle and compact in that area creating uneven support. Excess moisture can cause erosion which will remove soil that supports the foundation walls. Drainage points are the key to ensuring water is directed away from your home’s foundation. French drain are one of the best ways to keep water from pooling around your foundation. A french drain is a gravel lined trench dug from your water pooling area to a different location.

There are several things that can be done to manage the winter freezing and thawing temperatures. Set up an appointment for PierMagic Foundation Specialists to come out to your residence for a free estimate. Give us a call today.