How Snow and Ice Can Damage Your Foundation

Winter, and the weather that comes with it, will be here before we know it. Many homeowners know that summer humidity and moisture can cause issues inside their homes, but moisture problems don’t start and end in the warm summer months. Snow and ice can create headaches for homeowners too by causing damage to the foundation and crawlspace. Below are common home issues caused by snow and ice and the ways that you can prevent them:

Snowmelt vs. Water Runoff

Snow loads and ice dams both eventually melt, and when they thaw, they produce something commonly referred to as “snowmelt.” Snowmelt generates a tremendous volume of water that quickly drains off your roof. This water should ideally drain into your gutters so that it may be taken away from your home. Snowmelt will instead slip off the roof if there is an ice dam over the gutter, though.

This unintentional rerouting causes the snowmelt to trickle very next to the foundation of your house. And this is how it affects your foundation and eventually your wallet.

How Snowmelt Can Affect Your Home’s Foundation

One of the most effective ways of protecting your foundation is to never let water from the roof flow directly down toward the house. Gutters are specifically designed to direct water away from your property for that reason. If the gutters are full or defective, water will drip down the side of your house and pool around the foundation.

This is particularly challenging during snowmelt because typically the ground is still partially frozen. Since frozen ground cannot absorb water, water near to your home has nowhere else to go but inside. So, water intrusion in your basement or crawlspace might result from melting ice dams and runoff.

But they are also capable of doing other kinds of harm. Your home’s foundation is made of porous material, which allows water to seep inside. All porous materials include concrete, brick, mortar, and cinder blocks. A small gap that is caused by water inside your foundation will eventually grow into a crack. Even worse, if your foundation is damp, the temperature could decrease, which would cause the water to freeze and expand. This causes cracks as well, but more quickly.

Bowing walls can result from cracked foundation walls. Your home’s structural integrity is compromised by bowing walls, and if they bow sufficiently, what happens? They might even trip and fall. You must immediately repair a bowing foundation wall because of this.

Frozen or Burst Pipes

Pipes freeze when exposed to below-freezing temperatures over an extended length of time. The expansion of water upon freezing is 9%. When this occurs inside a closed pipe, the pressure inside the pipe rises, which may cause the pipe to split or explode.

When a water pipe bursts, flooding can occur and leave behind water damage. The most frequent locations for frozen pipes are crawlspaces, basements, and garages. Insulating important pipes in the crawlspace, basement, or garage can help to keep such pipes from freezing and bursting.

Prevent Foundation Damage With Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement

When it comes to snow damage and the moisture damage that can come with it, prevention is key. It’s imperative to get your roof checked by a professional prior to the harsh winter months to be alerted of any structural problems, risks, and repairs needed. That is why we offer a comprehensive evaluation to ensure that your attic and crawlspace are structurally sound and free of any moisture related problems. Contact us today to learn how we can help protect your home this winter!

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