
6 Ways Water Damage Can Happen During the Winter Months
Water damage can happen at any time of the year. It will damage your business and home by destroying carpet, walls, cabinets, and so much more. Surprisingly, this type of damage is even possible even during the colder months of the year. Freezing temperatures or thawing snow can bring damage to your home when you don’t take proper measures.
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In this article, we will talk about the possible damages that can happen during the winter months to give you a heads up on ways you can keep yourself and property safe this winter season. There are some things you need to keep in mind to avoid compromising the value of your home.
Here are 6 ways water damage happens during the winter months:
1. Frozen Pipes
This is one of the most common types of damage during winter. Temperatures are freezing, causing the water in the pipes to freeze. This causes the H2O molecules to expand, and if they expand a little too much, the pipe will burst. Burst pipes bring unwanted damage to homes, buildings, and properties.
Keep in mind that the more time you are inside your home, the more water is being used. This adds more pressure on the pipes of your home. If a pipe breaks, you’re looking at damage to your walls and floors.
Read more: How To Fix A Frozen Toilet Tank
2. Leaking Water Heater
The temperature of the cold water will drop about 25 degrees during the winter. This forces water heaters to work harder in order to heat up. Additionally, if the heater in your home is old or has a lot of sediments, these particles will quickly absorb the heat.
When an aged heater is constantly running and working extra hard, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to leak or worse, burst. This leads to flooding and damage to your home. To avoid this mess, we advise you to check your unit for any faulty pipes, unusual noises, or leaks. These are signs that there’s something wrong.
3. Melting Snow
Melting snow on your roof poses a major threat. If too much melted snow accumulates, you’re at risk for flooding or mold growth. This small detail is often overlooked by homeowners.
To avoid these damages, you need to treat this problem immediately. We suggest you use a snow removal rake after it snows to safely remove the snow off your roof. Also, be sure to clean out gutters as well since leftover water can freeze and damage them.
4. Overflowing Gutters
Next up is the buildup of water within gutters. We touched base on this previously. However, we want to mention that you’re looking at some damages to gutters when this happens.
Ice can block the gutter, causing it to overflow and spill over the sides. This water can seep into the foundation of your home and even flood your basement. To prevent this from happening, clean your gutters regularly especially towards the end of winter.
5. Poorly Insulated Pipes
If a water line is exposed to outside temperatures, it must be properly insulated. Winter months mean dropping temperatures, creating a risk for frozen or ruptured pipes.
Avoiding broken pipes is made simple by purchasing some pipe insulation made of foam or fiberglass. You can purchase these from a nearby hardware store. These materials will keep the pipe protected to avoid water from freezing during winter.
6. Ruptured Outdoor Water Lines
While the main water lines must be left on in the winter, it’s a smart idea to turn off any exterior lines like garden hoses. Pipes with running water increase the risk of potential damage because when the water becomes frozen within a pipe, there is the possibility that it will burst. However, when the source is cut off, the water that is trapped inside will drain out.
Read more: How To Drain Pipes For Winter?
You can add extra protection by adding an insulated cover over the spigot. This helps to prevent extra water from seeping in. As you can see, there are several steps you can take to prevent water damage within your home even in the colder months.
If you’re ever in need of a professional water damage restoration specialists give us a call at All Dry USA. We make the process of getting your home back to its original condition a breeze.
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With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.