From Cracks To Collapses: How Neglected Foundation Issues Can Lead To Disaster

Your home is your castle. Because of this, you want to always keep it properly maintained. However, while most of your attention may be on such areas of your home as the roof, plumbing system, and electrical system, you may be overlooking its foundation, which is much more important than you may realize. In fact, neglecting foundation issues can lead to problems that range from cracks in walls and floors to part of your home potentially collapsing. Rather than find yourself dealing with an unexpected disaster, here are some tips you'll want to keep in mind.

What Cracks Mean

Cracks in your home's foundation can be a warning sign of serious structural issues that may threaten your home's integrity. They can appear in different sizes and shapes inside or outside the house, ranging from hairline cracks to gaping ones. The size of the crack may not always accurately reflect the severity of the problem but it is better to get it inspected by an expert to determine whether repairs or other actions are needed. Contacting a company like Straight Line Construction, for example, should be contacted as soon as you notice cracks. Regardless of the magnitude of damage, cracks in your home's foundation must be addressed immediately as they often indicate a much larger problem lurking below the surface.

Plumbing Problems

When you have foundation problems, you may think you only need to worry about some walls and maybe the floor. However, you'll also need to pay close attention to your home's plumbing system. When you continue to put off foundation repairs, this puts more and more strain on plumbing components such as pipes. Over time, as more stress is placed on pipes, they may develop slow leaks or burst. When this occurs, you'll also deal with water damage and much more extensive foundation issues.

Electrical Issues

When walls shift and crack, the experts know this is a recipe for disaster regarding your home's electrical system. As walls move, this begins to also move around various electrical wiring. When this happens, your electrical panel may start to become unpredictable. Before you know it, you may have short circuits, wires that are loose or broken, or breakers that are flipping right and left. This can create a severe fire hazard, so it's best to take care of your foundation problems right away rather than risk a potentially deadly disaster.

HVAC Issues

If you have a heat pump connected to your home, foundation problems can also create HVAC problems you never expected to encounter. A shifting foundation and cracks in the walls can result in a heat pump that is anything but level and steady. Your home's ductwork may also be affected since shifting walls and ceilings can lead to duct connections becoming loose. Should this occur, your HVAC system will be working much harder than necessary, resulting in higher utility bills and the possibility the system itself will have a much shorter lifespan.

The next time you walk by that crack in the wall or notice the floor underneath your feet feels spongy or uneven, don't assume it's nothing to worry about. Instead, contact foundation repair experts to determine what repairs may be needed.