Should I Water My Foundation in Texas During Winter?
Yes, you should water the soil around your Texas home year-round to avoid foundational issues that can lead to cracked walls, doors that stick, uneven floors, and structural hazards. During the cooler, dryer months of winter, the soil around your Texas home can dry out and shrink, causing the foundation to settle or tip and leading to costly damages to your home.
Richardson foundation repair work can be avoided by keeping the soil moist throughout the entire year and scheduling regular inspections.
How winter weather can affect your foundation
Foundation problems during colder months aren’t caused by a poor-quality foundation but relate to the soil that the foundation sits on. Texas soil is predominantly made up of clay, including black gumbo and caliche, which typically react to changes in water. Changes in the amount of moisture in the air can lead to soil cracking. If your soil cracks, it can lead to uneven settling of your foundation.
How to protect your foundation this winter
Keeping the moisture level of your soil consistent around the year can help prevent shifting and settling. Here are two steps to keeping your soil moist in the winter:
- Use a soaker hose or an in-ground sprinkler system and set it up approximately 18 inches from the foundation of your home.
- Use less water than you would during summer. The summer heat can cause more evaporation, so even though winter droughts in Texas can cause more drying, the cooler weather allows the soil to soak up and keep more of the water it receives.
Top tips for watering the soil around your foundation
- Avoid over-watering. Using too much water can make the ground too soft. If the ground starts to become squishy, stop watering.
- Don’t place the soaker hose in direct contact with the foundation as it can lead to water pooling, turning your firm soil into mud. This can affect the soil’s ability to support your home’s foundation.
- Avoid connecting more than one soaker hose, which can lead to uneven watering.
- Ensure watering won’t drain towards your house by filling any low-lying places that may collect water near your home.
- If the amount of water your neighbor is using affects the soil on your property, ask them to stop.
How often should you water your soil?
How often you need to water can depend on how dry it is during winter. If we don’t get much rain during January or February, it’s essential to water the soil of your foundation at least two to three times throughout the month, for approximately 20 minutes at a time. Keep an eye on your sprinkler or soaker hose, and ensure you don’t overwater the soil. You’re aiming to keep a consistent moisture level in the soil around your foundation, so if it’s a really dry winter, you may need to water more frequently.
How do I check if my foundation is damaged?
We recommend that you check the exterior of your home during winter to look for cracks or issues that may affect your foundation—however, foundation damage isn’t always as apparent. Scheduling an inspection with Richardson foundation repair experts could help you identify potential issues early, before they turn into larger problems, saving you time, money, and headaches in the future.
Foundation repair Richardson TX contractors
If you need foundation repair services in Richardson, TX, contact Align Foundation Repair. Our family-run business prides itself on customer service and offers free repair estimates to help you plan your home maintenance needs. In addition to our Richardson foundation repair service area, we also service the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area. Contact our foundation repair contractors in Richardson, TX today to schedule a free inspection for your home.
