How Can Winter Weather Lead To Water Damage In My Home?
Winter poses unique water damage threats to your home. These threats are caused by cold temperatures, structural damage such as water freezes and unfreezes, and snow accumulation.
Savannah Water Damage Restoration
From our water damage restoration professionals at Harper Special Services, here are five ways that winter weather can lead to water damage in your home.
Weakened Roof
Your roof is subject to a great deal of strain during the winter months. As water freezes and unfreezes, expands, and contracts, the shingles on your roof can become cracked or damaged. Moreover, the gradual accumulation of weight due to ice or snow can also exert a lot of pressure on your roof. If you have an older roof or if it has not been inspected for some time, you should consider having your roof inspected before the winter so any necessary repairs can be made before it is too late.
Ice Dams
An ice dam is a blockage of ice that forms on the edge of a roof. They literally create a dam that keeps ice and snowmelt from flowing properly through your gutters and out your downspouts. This is problematic for several reasons. For one, it will lead to increased strain on certain parts of your roof. The most troubling issue, however, is that rain of melting snow won’t run through your downspouts and will instead pool around the base of your home. This can easily lead to flooding in your basement or crawlspace.
Snow Accumulation
It’s easy to underestimate the danger of even just a few inches of snow on your roof. After all, even a couple of inches weighs more than enough to put a weak roof under strain. Keep a close eye on the amount of snow and ice on your roof and clear the accumulation as necessary to prevent any unnecessary damage to your roof.
Burst Pipes
Frozen pipes are a constant worry during the cold winter months. Once temperatures drop below freezing, the water in your pipes has the potential to freeze and expand, blocking off your pipes and potentially causing them to crack. Pay close attention to the temperature so you know when you need to take measures to prevent frozen pipes like setting your faucets to a drip, insulating your pipes, and opening your cabinets to expose them to the warm air.
Flooded Basement
Basements are the prime suspect for flood damage in any home. This is no different in the winter. There are too many potential causes of basement water damage to go over here, but make sure you keep a close eye on your basement, especially in all the nooks and crannies, so you can detect and restore water damage in its early stages. Following all of the tips above should help keep your home safe from winter water damage. However, if damage does still occur for any reason, our team of dedicated water damage restoration experts at Harper Special Services is just a call away!