How Winter Can Affect Your Foundation

As it gets toward the end of the year, winter weather in Maryland can get rough. And, even though it can be drier in the winter, there is still a risk of water damage and other issues, especially in your foundation. Here are some of the things that winter weather can do to your home’s foundation.

Leaks

Winter weather can get especially nasty once it starts snowing. And all of that excess moisture sits against your foundation and eventually finds its way into weak spots. The window wells around your basement, for instance, can be highly susceptible to leaks in the winter. For this reason, it’s important to look into waterproofing your basement as soon as possible before the weather gets bad. Sealing cracks is key when you have to combat water accumulation in the winter.

Cracks

It’s likely that most home foundations have small cracks due to the natural settling of the house. But these little cracks can become a problem in winter. When water gets into these small cracks it will naturally expand as it freezes, which will wedge the cracks open and cause them to grow and spread. It gets worse because once the temperature gets higher then the water will melt and work its way further into the cracks. It’s possible that, during the unpredictable Maryland weather in winter, your foundation could endure several cycles of water expanding into cracks, melting, and expanding deeper to make the cracks worse.

Flooding

Lastly, there are a couple of reasons why you could be at risk of a basement flood in winter. Rapid changes in temperature can cause snow to melt too quickly and overwhelm your basement with excess water. And if the discharge line to your sump pump freezes, then your sump pump won’t be able to work properly to prevent a flood.

Contact All Aspects Waterproofing Today for Your Waterproofing Needs

Whether you need a new sump pump installed or want to waterproof your entire basement, contact All Aspect Waterproofing, a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company with over 30 years of experience in the Washington, DC./Maryland/Virginia area. We have a great deal of experience in waterproofing, mold testing, and mold remediation, and we want to make you feel at home again. Contact us online or by calling 1-866-999-3110 or 301-766-4420. To see what we’re up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Houzz.