No More Ice Storm Damage

9/24/2018 (Permalink)

Ice dams are a sign of potential damage to your gutters and roof

With some planning and preparation, you can prevent a lot of ice storm damage. But even if an ice storm damages your house you can do things that will keep any future damage at bay. So, read how to keep your repair costs down and make your home safer from ice damage.

Start by never considering ice storm damage a minor concern. Ice can do major, costly damage. SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield has seen small actions have a big impact. For example, when you know a storm is coming check to be sure your windows are shut. If the weather might be freezing cold, consider keeping your water faucets dripping. Keep cabinets that hide your home’s water pipes open so more heat will reach the pipes.

Ice Dams
When water freezes, melts, and then refreezes on the edge of your roof it can create ice dams in your gutters and on the roof. Ice dams can cause water to leak into your home and damage ceilings, walls, insulation, and other areas.

No More Ice Dams
To fight ice dams, add insulation to your attic. Make sure you insulate recessed lighting fixtures so they don’t heat up your attic. The Family Handyman has some good tips and illustrations about how to prevent ice dams. After a storm, it helps to remove the snow from your roof with a roof rake. That’s especially important if 6 inches or more of snow falls on your roof. Don’t use a regular rake so you won’t damage your home’s shingles and gutters.

Roof Strength

It’s a good assumption that your roof (if it’s in good condition) can support about 20 pounds of snow per square foot. Homes in the SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield region and other extreme weather areas are often built to withstand more. Ten to 12 inches of snow equals about 1 inch of water or about 5 lbs. per square feet of roof. So, unless you have more than 4 feet of snow on your home’s roof – assuming your roof is not old or damaged – you’re probably safe from a roof collapse.

No Roof Collapse
Do check the condition of your home’s roof. From your attic, can you see daylight through the boards? Are there dark streaks or stains that could indicate previous leaks or water damage? Does the roof sag? You may want to ask a professional to check your roof’s condition. SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield can help 860.633.8791.

Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield for Cleanup and Restoration. Call at 860.633.8791

Gutters

Unblocked, free-flowing gutters are key to keeping water and ice from piling up in your gutters and on your roof and causing damage. Clogged gutters can back up and flood your home or saturate the ground and damage the foundation.

No More Clogged Gutters
Clear your gutter of debris. If you do this yourself, make sure you properly brace the ladder and wear gloves for the chore. Your down spouts should drain water at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation. Perhaps you need to trim branches that have grown over your roof and deposit lots of leaves in your gutters. And make sure you remove any tree limbs that could fall.

Plumbing
It’s no fun to return home only to find a pipe has frozen, burst, and flooded the house. Yet this happens often to SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield customers. Pipes in bathrooms and laundry rooms located near garages or exterior facing walls are especially vulnerable to freezing.

No Burst Pipes
Close any crawl spaces and add extra insulation near any water pipes. Consider buying space heaters to keep questionable rooms warm if frigid temperatures hit. Never turn the heat off when you leave your home. Open vanity and cabinet doors so that air circulates and keeps pipes warm.

Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield  for Cleanup and Restoration. Call at 860.633.8791

Hoses and Outside Faucets
Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s fine to leave your garden hose attached and outside faucets on during winter. Cold weather causes water to expand. When that happens in a pipe, hose, or faucet, they break.

No Water in Outside Hoses and Faucets
Before winter, disconnect all your garden hoses and drain your outside faucets. If your home has a separate shut-off valve for external faucets, turn that valve off. Know where the main waterline shut-off is for your house so, if a pipe breaks, you can immediately turn off your home’s water supply.

Pretty to Look At, Pretty Disastrous to Clean Up After
Ice can look beautiful. But left untreated on your roof or in your gutters, ice can lead to major water damage. Water quickly ruins carpet and personal items. Water can cause mold and make structural damage worse. Get to water damage and ice damage quickly. You will get the area dried out faster and prevent or lessen the damage. Waiting too long gives the water chance to cause more problems.

Help Is Here
Questions? Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield to discuss. Call 860.633.8791. We’re the mold, mildew, fire, and water removal service professionals who have saved property and saved money for the owners of flooded basements and water damaged properties. We serve homeowners and business owners in Glastonbury, Marlborough, Portland, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield.

SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.633.8791
Fax 860.216.2762
24-hour emergency service