How to Prevent Damage to Your Home This Winter

How to Prevent Damage to Your Home This Winter

We may be welcoming the first few weeks of fall, but winter will be here before you know it. While this can be a joyous time of year, the harsh climate conditions can become a harsh reality for homeowners.

Why? Well, as it turns out, losses from snow, ice and freezing temperatures average about $1.2 billion a year. That’s a lot of money.

Here are three winter damage prevention tips that could save your home this season.

Keep Pipes from Freezing.

Frozen water in your pipes can create a lot of pressure, leaving them weak and susceptible to bursts. Pipes in crawl spaces or outside walls are particularly vulnerable, since cold air can easily get to them. To avoid frozen pipes:

• Seal cracks in foundation near pipes with caulk.
• Keep a slow trickle of water running if pipes are in an area that is unheated.
• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves.
• Keep cabinet doors open during particularly cold days.

It’s also a smart idea to drain and disconnect any outdoor hoses for the duration of the winter season. If possible, shut off the outside water valves altogether.

Avoid Winter Flooding.

While it may seem far away, winter will eventually begin to fade — taking the cold weather with it. That melting snow can do major water damage in your home. To avoid it, have a plan before winter starts.

Before the snow starts, clean your gutters and remove any items that prevent melted snow from draining away from your house. You also may want to consider installing a sewer backwater valve to minimize the chance of water entering your home through your floor drain. For regular maintenance, remove snow that’s piling around your home’s foundation.  

Prevent Roof Damage in Winter.

When it snows, your roof can fall victim to what’s known as ice dams — or a buildup of ice that accumulates when snow melts off the roof and refreezes at the edge. Subsequently, additional water is then blocked and forced underneath the roof and into the house’s structure. This cuts years off the lifetime of your roof.

So how can you prevent ice dams? Make sure your attic is well ventilated and the floor is well insulated (keeping heat from rising up from the house). The colder the attic, the less the snow melts.

Can your Home Make it Through the Winter?

If you’re thinking about home improvement in winter, it may be time to bring in the experts. With over 70 years of experience in the business, Long Roofing can get you the new roof you need for an ease of mind this season.