Winter Causes Water Damage in Northern Summit County

11/4/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northern Summit County has the expertise and the resources to handle any size disaster.

Water damage may occur at any time of year, cold temperatures and inclement weather can combine to trigger winter water damage. This can be leaks and water intrusion in Northern Summit County. To reduce seasonal risks, be aware of these common sources of water damage in the winter months:

• Frozen Pipes
  Install pipe insulation on all supply pipes potentially exposed to freezing temperatures. This can be the crawl space or up in the attic. When a hard freeze is in the forecast, open faucets slightly and allow them to drip to relieve pressure if pipes freeze. If water flow stops during extreme cold, assume a pipe has frozen. Don’t wait until it thaws to find out there’s a rupture, get help immediately.
• Ice Dams: Water runs down to the colder portion of the roof then freezes again, obstructing flow of runoff into gutters. Water then seeps through shingles and sub-roofing and causes water damage in the attic. You can prevent this by making sure the attic is properly ventilated to remain uniformly cold. Make sure to seal ceiling cracks, gaps and other openings with caulking to prevent heat loss into the attic.
• Snow Melt: Melting snow around your house can saturate deep into the soil and leak through the foundation and basement walls. Shovel accumulated snow away from the house. If you can, seal cracks and gaps in the basement wall and, if you don’t have one, install a sump pump.

It’s cold outside! Knowing the types of winter water damage that can occur can help you avoid these hazards.

SERVPRO of Northern Summit County has the expertise and the resources to handle any size disaster. If you need assistance with storm or flooding call (330) 650-4486