In the winter your home is a wonderful escape from the cold temperatures outside. There’s nothing better than getting cosy on the couch with a hot drink and a roaring fire while the snow falls outside.

However, the cold temperatures can put your home at risk. In the worst case they can even affect the structural integrity of your home. So to protect your warm and comfortable home, it’s important to know what to look for so that you can stay warm, safe, and dry all year round.

Frozen sump pump discharge line

Your sump pump works hard all year, pumping water out from your basement. However, in the winter there’s a danger that freezing temperatures could cause the discharge line to become frozen, pushing water back down the line. Left unchecked, this can lead to basement flooding. Luckily, you can prevent this by ensuring that the discharge line is placed at a downward angle. If water can’t collect in the discharge line, it won’t freeze and cause a blockage.

Water seepage

Frozen ground and snow on the ground around your home will begin to melt as the weather warms up – or because of the heat from your home. The frozen ground and snow will then begin to melt, and the resulting water can find its way into your home via any cracks. Even if no cracks exist when the water melts, the pressure from the water can build up and cause small cracks to appear.

This water seepage will often find its way in via the basement, which is why it’s imperative to have your basement properly waterproofed to prevent this happening.

Frost heave

Frozen water in the ground can also cause a different problem. As the water in the soil freezes, it expands and begins to exert pressure on the structures above it – namely, your foundation. This movement and pressure can cause cracks in your foundation or walls, which left unchecked can lead to water seepage and further damage.

It’s important to be vigilant for signs of foundation damage or basement leaks. Problems with your foundation left unchecked can affect the structural integrity of your home. And the damp caused by a leaking basement can further affect the structural integrity of your home as well as encouraging the growth of potentially dangerous mold.

Contacting the experts as soon as you notice an issue can protect your home and save yourself a lot of expense dealing with a bigger problem later down the line.

The cold winter temperatures can cause damage to your home, but if you know what to look out for you can be vigilant and call in the experts at the first sign of a problem. Proper basement waterproofing can help you prevent the damage and inconvenience associated with water seepage and basement leaks caused by cold weather. Arrange your free inspection today to find out how you can protect your basement all year round with comprehensive basement waterproofing.