Droughts and Your Foundation

Midwesterners know how detrimental drought can be, especially since many of Nebraska and Iowa’s economies heavily depend on agriculture. Oh, and we sit on top of the world’s largest aquifer, but did you know these droughts can substantially impact your home, too? Better Business Bureau offices in Texas reported a 75 percent increase in requests for foundation repair information during their current drought.

 

According to the Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, southern regions of Nebraska and Iowa are currently experiencing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions. In addition, the region is recovering from extreme and exceptional drought levels, the Drought Monitor’s most severe rankings, which we experienced in 2014. The soil of your home shrinks away during times of prolonged dryness. This can cause bank-breaking foundation issues if you let the problems persist.

 

Settling can occur when the soil shrinks away from your house. Droughts will increase this likelihood since roots can dehydrate the soil beneath your home in their search for additional water, accelerating soil shrinkage. This moisture imbalance loosens your home’s foundation, causing cracks to appear throughout the structure and weakening its structural integrity. Nearby trees may also contribute to settling.

 

When your foundation begins to settle, cracks will first form in the basement walls and can progress toward upper levels along window and door frames. Don’t overlook that newly hard-to-open door, as it could be an early sign of settling. At the very least, it doesn’t hurt to give your foundation a quick check to ensure your home isn’t settling. If you notice any new cracks or hard-to-open doors, consider contacting Epp Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

How will a drought cause your house to flood? Thanks to the new cracks in the walls and gaps between your foundation from soil shrinkage, you will likely experience leakage or flooding when it rains. Soil can also quickly expand following heavy precipitation after a dry period, creating new or larger cracks in your foundation.

 

Fixing damage caused by settling requires different solutions from home to home. Lucky for you, we provide our customers with various solutions to fix a flooding basement and settling foundation. By hiring our experts for a free estimate, we will identify the source of your home’s flooding.

For more information see Structural or Non-Structural? Understanding Foundation Cracks.

Homeowners should constantly note any cracks in their foundation or leakage in their basement. Any new leaks or cracks could be early signs of a much-needed repair and save you loads of money in the long run.

 

It’s a good idea to invest in a soaker hose during a drought. Soaking should mitigate the absence of rain until the dry period is over and help prevent damage. Place the soaker hose within 12 to 18 inches of your foundation to moisturize the soil around it. It’s essential to moisturize the soil only, not saturate it.

 

Most at-home quick fixes are like putting a bandage on a broken leg, causing more damage in the long haul. The problem only becomes more expensive the longer you wait. Contacting our company right away is always in your best interest.

 

At Epp Foundation Repair, we fix basements. Our experts will help you identify and solve any issues associated with your foundation. For instance, our Steel Push Pier System is tailor-made to fix the foundation problems of your specific home and is an excellent solution to a settling home. A simple fix for a delicate problem.