Prevent Winter Weather Water Damage

10/25/2021 (Permalink)

With winter fast approaching and colder weather on the way, is your home ready to keep you and your family dry? Check out these best practices to help prevent winter water damage to your home!

Prevent frozen pipes and pipe bursts

• Any faucets that are connected to pipes in areas that are unheated (attic, crawl space, outside) are more likely to freeze when the temperature drops. Be sure to let cold water drip from those faucets to help prevent freezing.
• If you plan on leaving your home for multiple days during freezing temps leave your heat on. Heating costs may rise a bit, but comparatively to a burst pipe in your home you’ll be happy you did.

Prevent Ice Dams

• When warm air from your home heats the roof and melts the snow on the roof it collects in unheated areas and refreezes, making ice dams that limit drainage off the roof and can cause damage to your home.
• Make sure to clear your gutters and downspouts so that water can drain off the roof and doesn’t collect anywhere to refreeze.
• Install gutter screens to help keep out debris build up in gutters
• If you live in an area with especially large amounts of snowfall, consider installing snow guards to prevent snow accumulation on your roof and lining under your shingles to prevent leaks as snow melts.

Ensure you know where and how to shut off your water in case of an emergency

• When pipes freeze or burst it is important to be able to respond immediately and prevent the issue from getting any worse. Make sure that you know where your water shut off is and turn it off the second you discover a leak

While the cold weather can bring potential damage to your home, taking the proper steps to get ready can help you enjoy the winter wonderland stress free, and if disaster does happen rest assured that us here at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer banks are ready to help you make it “Like it never even happened.”