Preventing Winter Water Damage

St. Petersburg, Russia 11 02 2018: mans cleaning snow from the roof

The change in temperature that winter brings can be extremely harsh on our homes. If it isn’t prepared for this dramatic change, the damage is sure to occur. Water pipes can freeze, ice dams can form, and thawed snow can flood your home. It’s important to know how to prepare for each to prevent them from happening to your home. 

Water Damage Restoration – Madison

Frozen Pipes

Burst pipes are among the most common causes of water damage during freezing weather. The pipes most at risk are in unheated areas of the home such as attics, basements, and garages. However, any pipe can burst with the change of weather. One great and inexpensive way to prevent pipes from freezing is to insulate them. Pipe insulation can protect any vulnerable pipes and cost very little at local hardware stores. Other preventative measures include keeping the garage door closed, keeping the thermostat at the same temperature, and disconnecting outdoor hoses. 

Ice Dams

Ice dams can loosen shingles, tear off gutters, and cause water to back up. Finding preventative measures is important; however, if you already have them, it’s equally important to know how to remove them. The best way to prevent ice dams is to use heated cables that clip along the roof’s edge in a zigzag pattern. This ensures that freezing does not occur on the roof. With that, you will need to make sure that your gutters are adequately clean so that the runoff can make it safely to the ground. Other preventative measures include insulating your attic properly and using a roof rake to take off the snow. 

Thawed Snow 

While it’s important to prepare for the change to cold weather, it’s also important to prepare for spring during the winter. With spring coming forward, so does melted snow which, if you are unprepared, can bring lots of water damage. Throughout the winter, make sure that you are continually cleaning off your roof and away from your home. Keeping the snow on your roof can cause ice dams and cave-ins on the roof. Once you have the snow off your roof, you will also need to shovel it away from your home to avoid flooding. You will need to check your basement floors, walls, windows, and doors to ensure that everything is properly sealed to prevent water from getting in. 

Other Measures

There are other various measures that you can take to ensure that you avoid water damage this winter. These actions don’t necessarily need to be done before winter but are great tips to prevent overall water damage nonetheless. Water leak detectors are extremely beneficial around any water-bearing fixtures, pipes, or sump pumps to alert you when there is a leak to prevent damage. Water supply lines need to be checked frequently to ensure integrity at least annually. 

Even after taking preventative measures, water damage can still occur. At that point, it is completely out of your control. However, water damage restoration doesn’t have to be. Professionals at White Knight can ensure that any water damage issues that you have will be taken care of swiftly.