Some info you might need on Jeopardy, but you will need in life, from your friends at SERVPRO of East Evansville

5/10/2022 (Permalink)

You know that weird feeling in your ears when you swim to the bottom of a deep pool? If you swim down just a few feet you’ll start noticing a change. The deeper you go under water the greater the pressure pushing on your ears is. That’s from the Hydrostatic Pressure.

Hydrostatic pressure is exerted due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth when weight from fluid is flowing downward from above.

When we are talking about basements Hydrostatic pressure can be best described as the consistent force of water pressure being pushed against basement walls.

Fluid Pressure & the Depth

In other words, the deeper the foundation of your basement is, along with how wet the soil conditions are; you’re at a greater risk for structural damage. The lower you go, the more pressurized the conditions become

Hydrostatic pressure is the outward and downward pressure by standing water. In this case, it’s your basement walls. The pull of gravity up against standing water is relentless; it’s causing water to push extremely hard against your basement walls and anything restricting its flow. Water is a dense substance, but it is capable of generating serious hydrostatic pressure when a large quantity of it is stopped from its intended downhill course.

Here at SERVPRO of east Evansville we see this all the time. We want to help you by making you aware of Hydrostatic Pressure. What it is, what it’s capable of and ways to help keep your basement a little safer from flooding caused by Hydrostatic Pressure.

Hydrostatic Pressure Relief;

• Sump Pumps
• Outside Drain Tile
• Dig a Trench Around your home to footer level (Usually 6 to 9 feet deep)
• Drainage System or a French Drain