The Weight Of Hydrostatic Pressure

Have you ever wondered why sometimes your house can go months or even years without a leak in your basement, then, bam! You’re dealing with a flood from nowhere! You may find it interesting to know that it’s not random. It’s hydrostatic pressure. Between the snow, ice, and rain that we’ve had recently, it’s no surprise that you’re experiencing water intrusion in your basement or crawlspace now. If so, these symptoms may recede when the rain clears up but will ultimately worsen over time.

The immense weight that water puts on your foundation every year can affect many aspects of your life. It can threaten your health and your safety. Today, we’ll focus on how it can threaten your safety by putting a strain on the structural integrity of your home. 

Foundation Cracks Caused by Hydrostatic Pressure

If your foundation walls are exposed, take a look at them. Do they have thin horizontal or step cracks? Those are caused by hydrostatic pressure. Like with any structure, your foundation walls can only handle so much weight. Eventually, the weight of moisture and soil will beat out the concrete and brick in your basement or crawl space. 

Your foundation is going to relieve this pressure in at least one of several ways. The foundation walls could crack, or worse, they could buckle. The doors and windows could come out of their frames. By nature, water seeks the path of least resistance. You may not have any visual structural damage at all, but water can seep up from the floor/wall joints. Ultimately, any of the following will result in water intrusion into your home.

If the necessary foundation repairs go ignored for too long, the structural impact that could have on your home is severe. The cracked and buckling walls could fail, which would mean unsafe living conditions. Don’t ignore these problems. Basement crack repairs are essential to your health and safety.