Dealing With The Effects of Winter Weather

Winter, as it sets in the season brings more than just picturesque snowfalls and cozy nights by the fire. Cold temperatures, icy conditions, and dry air can take a toll on both our healthy and daily routines. From battling seasonal illnesses and skin dryness to navigating slippery sidewalks and maintaining home safety, winter presents unique challenges that require preparation and care. 

What To Do With Freezing or Bursting Pipes

Freezing temperatures are the number one cause of frozen or bursting pipes. The first sign of a frozen pipe is reduced or no flow out of a plumbing fixture, like your faucet or shower. A frozen pipe will not always crack or burst so sometimes thawing it out slowly is your best bet.

What do you do if you do suspect a frozen pipe? Here is what to do and not do to help you get started:

• DO: Turn off the “main water valve” to the house and leave the faucets “open”.
• DON’T: Use any open flame to attempt to thaw the pipe.
• DON’T: Use any electric heater or hair dryer directly to the pipe as any leaking water can cause an electrocution hazard.
• DO: Let the heat of the house get to the pipe by opening cabinets or crawl space doors.
• DO: Have plenty of patience. Heat and patience are the best two ways to get the pipes thawed.

To test if the pipe is thawed or not you will need two people. The first person should go to the main water valve and slowly turn on the water. The second person should be simultaneously walking around the house to see if all the faucets are running and making sure that there is no water leaking from cracked or burst pipes.

In the event that you do experience a burst pipe you should first immediately turn of the water at the water main valve and shut off all open faucets. Next you will need to open the lowest hot and cold faucets to drain the water from your home and prevent the broken pipe from causing additional damage. Then, call a plumber to fix the broken pipe.

If you do have a pipe that has burst you will most likely need the services of a restoration company. However, the good news is that in most cases losses caused by water coming from a broken fresh water line can be mitigated with little to no reconstruction needed. A restoration company can come in and dry out your home properly so there is no risk of mold growth attributed from the loss. Furthermore, in most cases losses like these are covered by your homeowners insurance. However, you should always consult with you agent as to the coverage’s that you have in your policy.

What To Do With Ice Dams

Ice dams occur when there is a build-up of water behind a blockage of ice. Typically these occur on our homes with the constant thawing and refreezing of the snow and ice on our homes. The thawing can occur from melting snow or even from the heat leaking from your home into your attic; the ambient heat will then cause the snow to melt on your room. The water from the melting snow then gets trapped behind the ice and snow on your eaves and you end up with ice dams.

Ice dams are dangerous and can cause damage and injury to your home and people. Icicles from your home can cause serious injury if they break loose and fall on a person. The ice can also cause damage to your gutters by weighing them down and possibly causing them to break free from the eave of your home. The constant freezing and thawing of your water soaked shingles can cause  them to break and fail. Additionally, attempting to remove ice from the shingles could cause damage as well. Ice dams can also cause damage on the interior of your home as well. Water leaking into the interior space can cause insulation to become wet. Once this happens the insulation no longer can resist heat flow and it becomes ineffective. Additionally, ice dams can cause interior damage such as staining on ceilings/walls, water damage to carpets, floors and furnishings. Left unattended, water soaked materials can quickly begin to grow mold.

So what can you do to minimize the chance of ice dams on your home? You can start by removing as much snow as possible from the roof of your home. However, keep in mind that this can be very risky work. It is best to remove the snow from standing on the ground and utilizing a roof rake to clear the snow buildup on your roof. If ice dams have already formed and water begins to infiltrate into the house then you will need a restoration contractor to come in and provide water mitigation services.

Long-term solutions for ice damming can include sealing large air leaks and upgrading insulation. This will allow your attic to maintain a cold enough temperature to lower the risk of ambient heat causing snow to melt on your roof. Without melting snow ice dams cannot form, thus eliminating the chance of damage to your home.