Extreme summer heat can be a danger to your health, but it can also be a danger to the health of your home. While concrete slab foundation problems can happen in cold and wet weather, summer heat can cause a different set of problems. In the heat, water evaporates and causes the soil to dry out, which can lead to your home settling and other foundation-related problems. The problems of high heat and lack of moisture can be compounded by environmental factors like clay soil or drought.
Foundation repair companies in the United States, especially those that serve southern areas, experience hundreds of calls as a result of summer heat waves. When you think you’re having concrete slab foundation problems as a result of a summer heat wave, here are things you can do to help minimize and repair the damage.
Look For Signs of Foundation Problems
Your foundation supports your whole home, so if you have concrete slab foundation problems, you’re going to see symptoms throughout your home. Some of the symptoms will be more obvious than others, but all of them provide clues about what you might need. Cracks on your foundation, interior drywall, or exterior bricks are one of the bigger signs that you need to repair your foundation. Pay attention to things that change inside of your home as well, like doors that stick in their frames, buckling tile in your kitchen or bathroom, and any gaps around your windows.
Start Your Foundation Repairs ASAP
With all home repairs, if you catch the problem soon enough, you can avoid further damage and worse problems. If some of those symptoms sound familiar, your home’s foundation might be shifting: you can get a free home inspection from a foundation repair expert to confirm where your problems might be. Pay close attention to the symptoms of foundation problems in your home so that you can equip your expert with as much information as possible because even small clues will give them guidance on the different repair options your home could benefit from.
The worst thing you could do is ignore or procrastinate on getting your repair work done. Ignoring your need for basement foundation repairs can result in worse problems down the line, including damage on your roof and major plumbing problems as your home shifts. Taking action now will keep you from spending more money down the line: the investment now is worth it in the long run.
Maintain the Right Level of Soil Moisture
Keeping the moisture content around your home constant is the best way to keep your basement foundation repairs to a minimum. Soil that dries as a result of evaporation in heat pulls away from the footing of your foundation, which can lead to dropping or rotating as the support system changes. Maintaining your landscaping around your foundation can help keep the soil moist. Big trees near your home draw a lot of water from the soil that could be used to support your home, and a foundation repair expert can tell you if your landscaping is causing a problem. Installing a moisture barrier can also help control the moisture level around your foundation.
Some people recommend watering the soil around your foundation. It’s not something that will solve concrete slab foundation problems on its own, but when you’ve had a long period of excessive heat or drought, water can’t hurt and might even help. Watering a foundation is as easy as watering a garden: a soaker hose along the south side of your home, wrapping around the east and west ends, should target the areas of your home that are most likely to be affected by dry soil conditions. Set the hose or sprinkler system as close to your foundation as possible and use a timer to make the system turn on at night to minimize evaporation.
Get Basement Foundation Repairs from Acculevel
You can beat the summer heat by staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and protecting your foundation from problems with water evaporation. Your foundation is the most important part of your home, and repair and maintenance can keep your home standing strong for years to come. Acculevel services foundations in all seasons and has a variety of basement foundation repair solutions available depending on your home’s unique problems. For a free home inspection, contact Acculevel.
