In the state of Florida, as well as other states around the country, homeowners have to be careful with the fact that a sinkhole may develop on their property. A sinkhole will develop when specific geological conditions are met, and when enough water erosion causes specific types of soils and sediments to be removed.
While this fact may be unsettling to most, what can be reassuring is knowing that sinkholes do not show up unnoticed. In fact, a person may be able to notice one or more of the signs of sinkhole activity. Spring Hill residents should know that sinkholes will often slowly develop over time, so these signs will become more noticeable.
Not all homeowners know what are the signs to look for to see if there is a sinkhole on their property, but today, we will be going over some of the more common issues that homeowners notice that prompt them to talk to sinkhole professionals.
Physical Depressions in the Yard or Property
One of the more common signs that many people notice when they have an active sinkhole on tier property is that depressions will start to form in their yard. At first the depression will be negligible, but overtime, homeowners will know that there is a depression getting larger in their yard.
If you are trying to determine if a depression in your yard is one of the signs of sinkhole activity, Spring Hill residents should know that these depressions will often collect water, when it once never did.
This is because as the land gradually starts to slope in from an active sinkhole below, rainwater has nowhere to go but pool into these areas.
Cracking on the Inside and Outside a Home
Another very apparent sign that there may be an active sinkhole on a property is if any homes or other structures start to develop cracks. These cracks can be noticed on the inside and outside the home, but cracks on the inside of a home are a more serious issue.
This is a tricky sign to know a sinkhole is active on a particular property because homes will naturally develop cracking on the outside of the home due to the home’s foundation settling throughout the years.
When looking for signs of sinkhole activity, Spring Hill residents should look for cracks that do not seem to be uniform or linear. For example, homeowners will often see a stair step like pattern on the outside of a home and think it has been caused by an active sinkhole, but this is one of the signs that a home’s foundation has shifted.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of *Sinkhole Titan*
