Can’t determine where the water in your basement is coming from? You could be facing hydrostatic pressure. We examine what hydrostatic pressure is as well as how you can prevent hydrostatic pressure from impacting your home.
What is Hydrostatic Pressure?
Hydrostatic pressure is the force that’s created by resting or standing water. For example, when it rains or snows, the liquid seeps into the ground and increases hydrostatic pressure in the soil that surrounds your home.
What Causes Hydrostatic Pressure to Have an Impact on Your Home?
The pressure from the water builds underneath basement floors and around the walls, and gravity pushes water into your living space through even the tiniest cracks. That’s why you won’t be able to find one specific entry point for the water.
This moisture can form more cracks and cause foundation walls to bow, so you’ll want to take care of it right away.
The type of soil around your home greatly affects how much it expands and shrinks when it receives moisture. Remember that clay soil will absorb more water than sandy soil, so the more it absorbs, the more built-up pressure is present behind your basement’s walls.
A huge mistake people make is that they let water pool near their home’s foundation. The issue with this is that you can’t keep water outside; foundation walls are typically made of concrete, therefore they’re porous and will absorb this water. Concrete may be strong, but it doesn’t stand a chance to large amounts of water. Unfortunately, current estimates indicate that a home’s foundation issues reduces its value by 10 to 15%.
How You Can Prevent Hydrostatic Pressure
Usually, preventing hydrostatic pressure starts with the construction process. You can plan to avoid build-up through foundation design; however, if you’re past the design stage, you’ll need to take some extra steps toward prevention.
To avoid this excess water, ensure the drainage systems around your home are functioning how they should. You should also direct water away from your home, and a sump pump helps with this. Once water enters your home, the sump pump will promptly remove it. Finally, seal cracks immediately after you notice them. If your home can benefit from foundation repair, contact the Real Seal. We restore foundations after significant structural damage, as well as before this damage ever occurs. Basement waterproofing keep hydrostatic pressure from affecting your living space. This is because a solid structure will alleviate any pressure from the standing water. Don’t wait until the last second to get in touch with the professionals—your home’s foundation depends on their help!
