How To Prepare Your Home For The Winter And Prevent Water Damage
Summer is quickly moving into fall, and winter is right around the corner. As wonderful as winter, it can also be a problem for homeowners who experience unexpected water damage because of the outside weather conditions. Before the snow comes, it is a good idea to prepare your home to prevent any water damage from affecting you during the cold months ahead. Here are some helpful tips to help you keep your home safe this winter.
1. Check Your Roof
Even if your roof is not leaking right now, it is still a good idea to inspect your roof and make sure there are no weak spots that might break once they are covered in snow. If any of your shingles are damaged or loose, replace them now instead of waiting until it is a much worse problem.
2. Clean Your Gutters
Making sure your gutters are clean when the snow arrives is a great way to protect your home from water damage in the winter. If your gutters are clogged, you might experience ice dams that can cause damage to your roof as it prevents the water from draining off of it properly.
3. Service Your Chimney
A fire in your fireplace can be the best during the winter. Before you light any flames, you should get your chimney checked out and cleaned. Broken bricks in your chimney can put you at risk of water leaking in during the winter. Getting it cleaned out is also an important way to prevent house fires.
4. Protect Your Pipes
A burst pipe can cause a lot of damage. Insulating any exposed pipes can save you a lot of trouble from water damage during the winter. It is smart to cover pipes under sinks, in attics and crawl spaces, and along any exterior walls of your home. You should be especially careful in your basement because that is where most water damage occurs.
5. Secure Outdoor Water Sources
Once winter gets here, you likely will not need your garden hose very much. Drain and store your hose and sprinklers to keep them from experiencing damage. Make sure to drain the water in the spigot on the outside of your house as well. You can do this by turning off the water source and then turning on the spigot to drain any water out of it. If you do not drain your spigot, the water stuck inside could freeze, leading to a burst pipe.
6. Insulate Your Attic And Windows
Insulating your attic not only protects anything you are storing there from the cold weather but also helps prevent your roof from experiencing damaging ice dams. You can also remove window screams and install storm windows to add an insulating layer to keep out the wet and cold. These are especially helpful during heavy rain or snowstorms that can be hard on your windows.
Water Damage Restoration—Madison, Wisconsin
Hopefully, your home stays safe and dry during the upcoming winter months. But if you experience any water damage, call White Knight Carpet Rescue Inc. to help you repair your home and fix the damage. They will give you the peace of mind you need that your home will be safe for the winter.
