If I showed you a video of someone watering their home's foundation, you might assume it’s some kind of viral gimmick.

But it's based on real weather science, and for certain parts of the country, it's a legitimate, engineer-endorsed way to help protect your home.

Here's why it works

Much of north and central Texas sits on expansive clay soil.

When that clay gets wet, it can swell dramatically. But during brutal heat and drought, it dries out, shrinks and can pull away from a home’s foundation.

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That can leave gaps beneath the slab, allowing the foundation to settle and leading to further damage inside the home.

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That’s why some Texas foundation experts recommend watering around your home during prolonged dry spells.

Can this work for your house?

The same advice can be a disaster if you don't live on the right type of soil.

Engineers stress that foundation watering is a highly localized solution for areas with deep, expansive clay only, so do some research about what your home sits on.

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How to do it yourself

For homes where it’s appropriate, the goal isn’t to flood the foundation.

Experts recommend setting up a soaker hose about two feet from the outside of your house.

During dry spells, do this roughly four times a week for around 15 minutes.

But don’t just start panic-watering.

If you suddenly spot a crack or a gap between the soil and your slab, soaking the area heavily can actually make things worse by creating uneven moisture. The goal is consistent soil moisture, not saturated ground.

So those bizarre viral videos? They’re not nonsense.

They’re a perfect example of how something that looks completely ridiculous in one part of the country can be essential home maintenance in another.