MAINTENANCE
FOUNDATION WATERING
The goal of foundation watering is to keep the water content of the soil under your foundation as consistent as possible. The best thing to do is to keep the soils around your home reasonably damp during the drier months. To be successful in this endeavor, adopting a watering program is the strongest first step that you can take.
Soaker hoses are much more effective than sprinklers because they maintain a steady amount of water in the area around the foundation; rather than a sprinkler that shoots water at a higher velocity and constantly spreading across the yard. With the steady water provided by a soaker hose, moisture can reach past the immediate weather affected zone.
Keep in mind that the more trees and large shrubs that you have on your property, the more you will have to water. Plants will use up water very quickly on a property. The larger the plant, the larger the amount of water it requires.
To provide even watering, proper placement of your soaker hoses is required. A soaker hose should never extend more than 25 ft from its point of connection to the faucet, and should never be placed against the foundation. The proper placement distance from a foundation for a soaker hose is approximately 12-18 inches, depending on the slope of your foundation; if your yard runs downhill, then the hose should be closer and vice-versa.
How Often Should A Foundation Be Watered?
There is a how to guide that tells you how much your home needs when it comes to watering. Observing your foundation over the course of time is the best way for you to determine how long you need to be watering. If soil is pulling away from your foundation and the weather is hot, dry, and windy-Water Lots! If the soil isn’t pulling away and it’s overcast-Water a Little! Remember, the amount of moisture on the surface of your lawn is not a good way to measure how you’re doing, it is possible for the surface to be soaked, and one to two feet down be totally dry.
If your watering program is not working, call us to set up a free evaluation!
WATERING DURING WATER RESTRICTIONS
YOU CAN WATER YOUR FOUNDATION DURING WATER RESTRICTIONS!
During extreme drought conditions, North Texas will have watering restrictions put in place by your city or county.
Please read your city or county watering guidelines. The main restrictions are normally limited to your yard. Most restrictions allow you to water your foundation with a soaker hose for up to one hour every night.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAINAGE & GUTTERS
Poor drainage can be a major contributor to soil moisture gain. While too little water content in the soil around your home can be hazardous, too MUCH water can be harmful too. Especially if surface water pools in only one or two areas around your home. As the dirt and clay begins to adsorb the water, it begins to expand, causing your foundation to heave, or rise above its proper level. If the clay does not expand evenly around the perimeter of your house, the rising during wet periods and the settling during dry spots cause undue stress on the foundation as it goes above and below its normal position. We advise you ensure your home has proper drainage, where no water pools around the foundation for at least 6 to 10 feet, and your gutters drain onto splash blocks, which moves runoff away from your foundation and helps control unsightly erosion.
PLUMBING LEAKS
Furthermore, plumbing leaks beneath your home can also cause the same problem. Even a leak slow enough not to notice on your water bill can be more than enough to damage your foundation. In addition to the normal seasonal issues we see from Texas summers, we frequently see homes with problems due to plumbing leaks, both in and out of season. We recommend that you have your plumbing checked annually both for maintenance purposes and to catch any leaks as early as possible.
CRAWLSPACE VENTILATION
Crawl Space Ventilation is very important to making sure that your pier and beam foundation stays dry. If all of the soil beneath the foundation swells uniformly or shrinks uniformly, it is unlikely to cause a problem. But when only part of the foundation heaves or settles, differential movement causes cracks, wood rot and other damage to an understructure. The right amount of hydration is very important.
One of the best ways to ensure that the moisture content under your pier and beam foundation stays consistent is by checking the efficiency of your vents. These vents allow outside air to circulate through the understructure to prevent the moisture buildup. Another alternative to promote adequate crawl space ventilation is by installing a humidistat fan. It will monitor the moisture and temperature levels under your house and keep the levels consistent to be in order to prevent foundation movement.
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Whether you are a homeowner or a realtor with deadlines, we are determined to make the repair process meet your every need. Contact us now and let’s get started!