While it is never ideal to find water pooling in any portion of your yard, when the water is pooling near your foundation the potential for serious problems skyrocket.

No matter if you have a slab foundation, a crawl space or a basement foundation at least some of the following problems could impact your home.

1. Bowing Foundation Walls

When water pools near a home’s foundation, it is a sign that the soil below it is also waterlogged. The hydrostatic pressure the water exerts on the foundation walls of a home is far greater than dry soil.

If the pressure becomes great enough, the foundation walls can begin to bow, crack and, in extreme cases, buckle. If you notice one of your foundation walls beginning to bow from hydrostatic pressure, it is time to take action because this can become a serious structural problem.

2. Soil Erosion

An excess of water that is not properly draining can begin to erode the soil around your home. This is an issue because that soil is precisely what you need to be strong enough to support the weight of the home.

If erosion weakens the soil around your home, the foundation will likely begin to settle, and this settlement can cause significant foundation problems.

3. Basement or Crawl Space Flooding

The more water that is around your foundation the greater the chances that some of it begins to infiltrate your home.

Water can your basement or crawl space through cracks in the wall or floor leading to standing water or flooding issues. Directing water away from your foundation greatly decreases the likelihood that you will have to deal with significant flooding issues.

4. Mold and Mildew

If moisture does find its way into your crawl space or basement, you run the risk of developing mold or mildew. Mold spores won’t simply stay in the basement or crawl space. Instead they will be circulated throughout your house, inflaming existing respiratory problems and potentially causing new ones.

5. Increase Pest Infestations

This problem affects both the inside and outside of your home. If the pooling has created areas of standing water, your yard can become a breeding ground for mosquitos. If the moisture gets into your basement or crawl space, the water can attract anything from ants and termites to rodents.

6. Increased Humidity

Summertime heat is bad enough without adding in additional humidity to your home. Any moisture that enters through your foundation is going to increase your home’s humidity. This can both make your home less comfortable and increase your energy bills as your air conditioner struggles to keep up.

7. Wood Rot

If water seeps through your foundation, it has a large number of wooden parts of your home’s sub-structure that it can inflict damage on. Moisture can lead wood to rot, be it the beams in a pier and beam foundation or the floor joists or baseboards. If the damage is to a structural component, it can impact other parts of your house as well.

Don’t Let Pooling Water Go Unchecked

If you see water pooling near your foundation, it is time to contact an expert to see what, if any, action you need to take to avoid damage. If you live in Pierman’s Oklahoma service area, we can offer an assessment of whether your problem requires the installation of an exterior drainage system. Contact us for more information.