Winter brings chilling temperatures that can cause great damage to your home too. Residential homes seem to suffer the most from winter’s wrath. Dealing with water damage in freezing temperatures is probably the last thing you would want to do during winter. To avoid this from happening, consider how to avoid some of the most common water damage caused by the winter weather and the ways to fix them when they occur.
- Ice dam formation on the roof
Ice dam formation is most common in homes with sloping roofs. It forms when snow accumulates on the roof and prevents the water from the melted snow to drain off the roof. As a result, ice dams cause a significant amount of water damage each year and it may become a black mole damage problem as well if it is left untreated. Before winter starts, make sure that your attic will remain uniformly cold by keeping it ventilated properly.
- Pipe Burst
Bursting pipes are caused by pipes getting frozen during the winter season; especially if there is water left in the hoses or pipes outside your home. During winter, the temperature can plunge below freezing, making the remaining water in the pipes to freeze. When the water freezes, its molecules expand which could result in the pipes bursting. It could help if you install pipe insulation, especially to pipes exposed to the freezing temperatures in winter.
- Snowmelt
Melting snow can definitely damage any home whether it has a basement, crawlspace or a slab foundation. If enough snow is piling up next to these foundations, it’s going to create a lot of water once it melts and poses flooding risks to your home. Aside from flooding, it can also attract mold growth which can lead to major home damages. Make sure to check on the gutter as water may freeze in it and damage your gutter system.
- Water heater leakage
Another problem that many homeowners overlook during winter season is the leaking water heater. As the temperature drops during winter, your water heater also works double to be able to provide you and your family a hot water for your shower. Add to the equation your water heater that has been serving your family for a very long period of time; it would only be a matter of time before it bursts or leaks, resulting in flooding. Regular checking on your water heater can help a lot in preventing this problem from happening.
- Overflowed gutter
As mentioned above, the water being trapped in the gutter can freeze, unfreeze, and freezes again. This can be really damaging to your gutter and may cause it to either bursts or overflow when the snow melts.
While the four things mentioned above are certainly not the only damaging factors during the winter season, they seem to be the most common problems faced by households. With that being said, it’s important to keep an eye out around your home during the wintertime, making sure things are well prepared for whatever may come. If you have any questions or issues arise in your home, contact us at (703) 334-8889.
