Publication date: 02/28/2009

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Freeze, thaw winter cycle creates problems

The recent heat wave we experienced was a welcome respite during a tough winter, but it was a reminder that whatever freezes also thaws, and that thawing can lead to problems for many homeowners.

For much of the winter, we are too busy worrying about ice dams and ice melters to even think about damp basements. But, when the 10 inches of snow starts to melt, it's an indication that we need to prepare ourselves for the impact all that melting snow has on our basements and foundations. Remember: Water always wins.

To help avoid the amount of potential damage the thawing cycle can bring, I recommend taking a walk around your home the next time we experience a thaw to check for potential signs of damage and take preventative measures. For example, look for areas of ground depressions that result in "bird bathing" and puddles around the perimeter of the home. Then, check for erosion of soil around your foundation, because wherever snow touches your foundation, there could be problems when it melts. If you see signs of puddles and erosion, make a note to rebuild the soil around your foundation this spring and re-grade it so that it slants away from your home. You should make sure the ground around your house has a 1-inch drop per foot for 5 feet.

You should also check your downspouts to make sure they aren't disconnected, and I recommend adding downspout extensions to help the melting snow from your roof run away from the house rather than dripping directly into the soil around your home.

This type of preventative maintenance is a good idea any time of year, but it's especially important when the winter thaw can add thousands of gallons of water to the soil around your home. And here in southeast Michigan, the clay soil that most of us have can only hold so much water before it swells.

With the huge amount of snow melt, the resulting soil swelling puts extra pressure on our basement walls.

Bob Genord of Foundation Systems of Michigan, (877) 379-6424, www.dry-mich .com, said he has been getting a lot of calls because of the recent warm weather.

"The first thing we get calls about when there is a thaw like we had recently is the leaks in the basement, wall cracks and rod holes," Bob says. "But eventually, that water will also migrate to the footings, and if your drain tiles are clogged and aren't working properly, the water will seep into your basement or back up through your drain."

Most drain tiles and drainage pipes are four inches in diameter. Sediment and other debris can clog the pipes to the point that only 1/2 inch of the pipe is open for the water to flow through. Having the pipes snaked out by a plumber may help. However, a more effective way is to have the system hydro-jetted all the way to the storm drain by a master plumber such as Rooter MD, (248) 888-7777, www.rootermd.com.

Genord also said that the added pressure from expanding clay can cause poured basement walls to crack, and cause block basement walls to actually to bow or collapse.

"You need to remember that even if a basement wall has a 1/4 -inch crack in it, the wall is broken and needs repair," he said.

Those cracks may not seem worrisome during the winter, when no water is seeping through them. But the thawing cycle can bring a small crack to life. Since most homeowner's insurance policies don't cover water damage, it's best to take preventative measures now to avoid even more costly damage in the future. Foundation System of Michigan provides a variety of solutions for cracked foundations and bowing basement walls depending on the home's particular situation.

Another thing I noticed during the recent winter thaw is that the sump pump ran more often. Even in the winter, it's important to have a good sump pump that can handle the excessive snow melt. FSM has a custom Tri-Tec sump pump system with two separate pump motors and a battery-powered backup to make sure your pump will work no matter how much water it needs to dispose of -- even if you have a power outage or the pump is accidently unplugged.

The winter thaw also brings an increased amount of moisture in the home, especially in the basement. For most of the winter, we are more concerned with the proper humidification when we are running the furnace, but a few days of 50 degree temperatures and melting snow means you might need to run the dehumidifier.

If you don't have a good dehumidifier, look at portable models from companies such as De'Longhi, (800) 953-3098,

www.delonghiusa.com; Whirlpool, (269) 923-5000, www.whirlpool.com; or whole-house models from Therma-Stor (800) 533-7533, www.thermastor.com; Aprilaire, (888) 257-8801, www.aprilaire.comp; and Lennox, (800) 953-6669, www.lennox.com.

Your garage also has increased moisture due to the thawing cycle, so remember to seal any unused ice melters and rock salt in double garbage bags to keep it from clumping and ready to be used when the snow flies again.

Now you are ready to handle the rest of winter in Michigan, where freezing and thawing is a way of life.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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