For most of the country, September officially marks the beginning of fall, complete with changing leaves, Labor Day weekend and back-to-school shopping. However, in Dallas and the rest of Texas, it still feels like the middle of summer. The state is facing the worst year of drought in its history—over two months of triple-digit temperatures—with extreme conditions laying waste to crops, homes, livestock and residents alike.
Fortunately, some meteorologists say relief is in sight. These experts claim that this month marks the end of the drought that has plagued the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the past several months. Shifts in atmospheric pressure and promises of rain are expected to bring temperatures back into the 90s, where residents hope they will stay for the remainder of the year.
However, if and when Texas receives the rain it so desperately needs, you’re not out of the woods when it comes to your home foundation. For many residents, the damage has already been done. The combination of this year’s heat wave and a punishing lack of rain have caused the soil in most places to contract, weakening support for thousands of home foundations and causing them to settle and crack.
The homeowners who escape damage from the drought face another threat when the rains return, as the soil bed beneath their homes expands and becomes saturated due to too much moisture. Add to that the fact that thousands of Texas homes are built on heavy clay soil, which is especially prone to expanding and contracting with changes in weather conditions, and you have a foundation disaster waiting to happen.
Investing in soaker hoses and foundation watering systems is by far the best way to prevent your home from needing extensive foundation repair. Although most counties in Texas are still facing mandatory lawn watering restrictions, these restrictions do not apply to soaker hose foundation watering. As long as extreme heat and drought conditions persist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Houston area and San Antonio area be sure to water your foundation daily to keep it from shifting.
For more information or a free estimate on installing soaker hoses to water your foundation, call 877-4-OLSHAN to speak to Olshan Foundation Solutions’ experienced foundation repair specialists.