If you ever get that “sinking feeling” when you are in your home, you’ve got big problems. And, if those problems aren’t resolved, your home is going down.

Your home is set on a fixed foundation. It is not supposed to settle or sink. When it does, as we have discussed in this blog, “Don’t Settle for Less: Repairing a Home Foundation that has Settled”, you will know it. 

Sinking occurs when the ground cannot handle the weight of the home anymore and it begins to sink. Here are several common causes of a home foundation sinking:

1. Plumbing is leaking: Your commodes, sinks, fixtures, or pipes may be leaking into the foundation. This causes the soil to erode.
2. Tree roots: Tree roots “dessicate” or dry up the soil by drinking up the moisture in the soil. Once that occurs, the home foundation begins to slide.
3. Drainage: If water is not draining correctly away from the foundation, it erodes the soil.
4. Bad soil: Soil expands and contracts around the foundation. This may be due to the soil not being prepared properly when the foundation was built.
5. Poor foundation construction: The home foundation contractors used poor or inferior materials to build it.   
6. Evaporation: The soil is parched due to heat and wind.

Any of these factors can be the cause(s) of the sinking of your home foundation. Once it occurs you will then see these signs: 

1. Musty smells in the basement: If it smells like mildew then the basement walls are probably leaking. Most likely the gutters are blocked causing moisture to seep into the basement. If the gutters are clean and it still smells musty, then it may be a leak in the plumbing.
2. Mold in the corners of windows and wall: Mold is always a bad sign. This means that moisture is accumulating in the home. Mold is also dangerous to your health***. It cannot be taken lightly. There may be cracks in the foundation that are letting in water.
3. Chimney has moved: If there ever was a sign of the foundation sinking it comes from the most obvious part of your home: the chimney. If it has moved, even just a little bit, the home foundation is definitely sinking. This is not only damage to your home but it could spell danger for anyone living in the home.  

One day, and we are not exaggerating, you could be sitting in your home and it completely slides off its foundation or suddenly sinks deeper into the ground. Home foundations that are neglected also become quite expensive to repair over time. 

The best action plan to take is to call a licensed and experienced home foundation contractor to analyze your foundation. They can repair it in a short period of time protecting your home and your most precious investment: your family. 

If you see any signs of your home foundation sinking, call our home foundation repair experts at M Taylor Enterprise who can do a thorough review of your structure and make recommendations. We serve the counties of Prince George and Silver Spring, MD area. Call us for a consultation at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com. 

***For more information on mold health issues visit MedicalNewsToday.