While it’s always good to be worried about the security of your home’s foundation, it’s during the winter months that some of the greatest damage can happen on this part of your house and other buildings. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep your home safe and avoid running into big issues with the structure of your home.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to protect your home’s foundation during the winter months.
Fix Cracks Before It Starts Freezing
Freezing temperatures and the presence of water pose a great risk to your foundation in the winter, especially if your foundation or the area around your home has cracks in it.
Knowing this, if you’re aware of cracks in or around your foundation before winter sets in, it’s wise to fix these cracks before the weather starts to reach freezing temperatures. By filling and sealing up any cracks prior to the first freeze of winter, you can keep water from getting into these cracks and freezing, which can cause even small cracks to expand drastically.
Position Your Gutters Wisely
Sometimes, you might not be aware of tiny cracks that exist in and around your foundation. So when you can’t treat the source, the next best thing is to keep water from getting near your home in general.
To do this, you can double check that your gutters and downspouts are positioned wisely around the roof of your home. With properly placed gutters and downspouts, you can divert water away from your home when it runs off the roof. This can keep water from pooling too close to your home and instead have it funnel toward safer areas.
Keep Snow Off Your Roof And Away From Your Home
Although you might not initially think that snow could be hazardous to your home’s foundation, a buildup of snow, ice, and other moisture on your roof could cause pooling around your foundation as the snow melts. And if this is happening multiple times each year, you could wind up with some big foundation issues.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to safely remove snow off of your roof and away from your home before there’s too much accumulation. This can be done by shoveling, snow blowing, or brushing the snow further away from when it naturally fell. While this can be an annoying chore, if it saves you from having to repair your foundation during the winter, it will all be worth it.
If you’re wanting to do everything in your power to keep your home’s fountain safe and secure all winter, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn just how this can be done.