As the winter weather approaches, it’s important to understand how cold temperatures can impact your home’s foundation and take necessary precautions to protect it. Your foundation is the structural base of your home, and if not properly protected from the harsh winter conditions, it may cause expensive damage down the line. This article will help you in understanding the cold weather affects foundations along with simple steps you can take to winterize your foundation and safeguard your home.
How does the cold weather affects foundations?
The cold weather brings with it many changes that can negatively impact your foundation if not addressed properly. Some of the main effects include:
1. Frost heave
When soil becomes saturated with water during winter, it is prone to frost heave. This occurs when water in soil freezes, expands and lifts anything above it like your foundation. This constant expanding and contracting due to freezing and thawing causes soil to heave upwards, pushing against your foundation and eventually cracking or shifting it.
How long does it take for frost to penetrate the ground?
The depth that ground will freeze depends on several factors like soil type, moisture content, temperature and duration of freezing conditions. As a general rule, frost can penetrate 3 feet or more over the course of a typical winter in many locations. The freezing happens progressively from the top down.
What temperature causes frost heave?
Frost heave is most likely to occur when the ground temperature is 32°F (0°C) or below. However, the degree of heaving depends on how long temperatures remain at freezing levels. Most experts agree significant frost heave requires around 3 consecutive days at or below freezing.
2. Foundation cracking and shifting
The soil movement due to frost heave puts pressure on foundation walls and floors, making them unstable over time. And in turn results in cracks forming in foundation walls both inside and outside your home. If the issue persists, it can even lead to the whole foundation shifting out of level.
3. Leaks and seepage
As cracks start developing, it becomes easier for melting snow or rainwater to seep inside through the cracks. This excess moisture can worsen the cracks and cause problems like wood rot or mold growth indoors over time.
4. Increased energy bills
A damaged or shifted foundation loses heat more easily through the cracks forcing your heating system to work for extended periods to keep the interior warm, driving your energy costs higher in winter.
How can you winterize your home’s foundation?
Taking the following steps will help safeguard your foundation from the effects of harsh winters:
Inspect your foundation before winter
Look for any signs of damage like cracks, buckling, or moisture beforehand and address them to avoid bigger problems later. Pay attention to foundation walls, basement floors/slabs and windows.
Seal all cracks in foundation
Call a professional to seal any cracks, big or small, with waterproof crack filler before the cold arrives to prevent water from seeping inside.
Clean your rain gutters and downspouts
Remove debris which could cause gutters to overflow, forming ice dams on the roof. Ensure downspouts direct water several feet away from the foundation.
Fix damaged rain gutters
Repair or replace loose, cracked or damaged gutters which can no longer function properly during winter.
Grade your soil properly
Slope the ground around your home so it angles down and away to direct snowmelt runoff away from foundations.
Trim back plants and trees
Prune foliage so branches don’t deposit too much snow or scrape against your home when loaded with snow or ice.
Inspect your roof
Check for any damage that may let water seep through such as loose shingles and repair if needed before winter arrives.
Change furnace filter regularly
A dirty filter works less efficiently and forces your heating system to work harder, placing more strain on your home including foundation.
Install a vapor barrier
If you have a basement or crawl space, install a vapor barrier like plastic sheeting to lock out damp, cold air and moisture that may contribute to cracks or mold issues.
Keep insulating pipes
Wrap exposed outdoor pipes with insulation or heat tapes to prevent freezing and potential bursts that could lead to water damage.
Avoid plumbing issues
To prevent frozen pipes, leave cabinets open if they contain plumbing and locate where main water shut-off valve is in case of emergency shut-off requirement.
Monitor humidity levels
Cold air holds less moisture so don’t switch off the whole-home humidifier completely as basement/crawl space conditions may still warrant some humidity control.
Bury the Foundation Below Frost Levels
Foundations should generally be buried below the frost line for the area. This depth varies by region but is typically around 4-6 feet to prevent freezing within or below the foundation wall. Being buried at the proper depth protects against frost heaving from below as well as water pressures that could compromise its structural integrity.
How to inspect your home’s foundation for signs of damage?
Inspecting your foundation vigilantly before winter is essential to spot potential problems early.
Follow these tips to inspect your home’s foundation for signs of damage:
-Start by visually examining the outside of your foundation wall from the ground level. Look for cracks, uneven concrete, bowing/buckling or color variations which may signify moisture issues.
-Use a bright flashlight to inspect the foundation from the basement by walking around and observing each wall and the floor. Look between floor joists too for cracks.
-Check if doors or windows seem jammed, sticking or misaligned which could point to settlement issues if the case.
-Feel basement walls with hands for soft, wet spots that may indicate areas prone to leakage or seepage when it rains/snows.
-Use a simple tool like a level to check for any unevenness in floor surfaces which should ideally be sloped towards floor drains.
-Crawl into any crawl spaces, hopefully with adequate lighting, to do the same foundation inspection from within.
-Take notes of exact locations needing repairs and take pictures for proof if calling an expert for further evaluation.
What should you do if you find cracks in the foundation?
If you notice any cracks during your foundation inspection, it’s important to address them properly before winter sets in. Here are a few things you can do:
- If you see minor hairline cracks less than 1/4″, use a polyurethane crack sealant meant for foundations. Follow package directions for surface preparation and application.
- For larger cracks between 1/4″-1″, consider using a mixture of cement and water called a “mud pack”. Chisel cracks open, backfill and smooth over the surface.
- Cracks wider than 1″ may require reinforcement. Consult a foundation contractor who can inject epoxy resins or install a bending crack stitch for stability.
- Monitor cracks over winter to ensure sealing has been effective. Reapply sealant if you see any water or new cracks emerge during freeze-thaw cycles.
- If cracks are numerous/extensive over large areas or foundation seems shifted greatly, specialized foundation repairs may be necessary rather than just crack filling alone. So, get an expert evaluation.
It’s always best to seal cracks when found as a temporary measure until a permanent solution. This prevents worsening due to water entry over the critical winter months.
How can you winter-proof your basement or crawl space?
Dark, damp basements and crawl spaces are prone to many foundation issues during winter. Here are some things you can do to protect them:
-Install a continuous 6 mil plastic sheet vapor barrier covering the dirt floor and extending up walls to seal out moist air. Use gravel on top of the crawl space.
-Insulate basement walls either externally or internally with rigid foam boards to improve energy efficiency and reduce chances of condensation and mold growth internally.
-Consider radon gas testing of the space and install a radon mitigation system if high levels are present as radon can accumulate indoors.
-Check that sump pump is in good working condition and plugged into a backup power source in case of power cuts during heavy rains or spring melts.
-Ensure basement windows, doors, and seals are well-maintained and draft-proofed with weatherstripping to block cold air infiltration.
-Dehumidify the space during the humid winter months by operating a basement dehumidifier to control excess moisture and prevent musty odors.
-Store items off the basement or crawl space floor on wooden pallets or shelves in case of minor flooding from water seepage through cracks over time.
Prevention is key
Foundations experience some of the harshest seasonal changes being positioned underground. If you ever notice new cracks or leakage during winter, be sure to address them right away to avoid further problems down the line. Follow the right maintenance checks at the right times, you can rest assured your foundation is protected and stabilized even in colder months. Staying proactive pays off when it comes to your home’s most important structural element.