One of the most loved seasons is winter, as one cannot get enough of it. It is the season that sparks joy within you and brings you at peace. The cozy movie nights with hot chocolate and coffee, enjoying snowfall, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are just a tiny part of this magnificent season. However, a little bit of negligence can destroy all of your winter plans.
Yes, winter water damage can become a significant problem, and many families suffer during winters because of it. The extreme temperatures often cause more harm to your beloved home than you can imagine. If you want to enjoy winter festivities to the fullest, try to pay close attention to your home before the season kicks in in full swing.
During colder months, houses are always at risk of water damage. There are higher chances of wet storms in winters and freezing-cold temperatures that can wreak havoc. If you are dealing with a minor water leak or a ruptured pipeline, you must hire a professional from thegibco.com in order to avoid a minor issue that can escalate to become a major in no time. Therefore, it is best to address these issues before a calamity happens.
It would be fitting to read up on water damage resources and familiarize yourself with potential problems, causes, and post-water damage repairs. By doing so, you will understand how devastating this problem is and why you should take immediate action to prevent it. You can also contact professionals for an inspection in order to prepare beforehand. However, there are some preventive measures you can take to mitigate the risks of water damage.
For your ease, listed below are five tips to consider
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Top 5 Tips To Prepare For Winter Water Damage
1. Inspect all the pipelines around your home
First things first, do some much-needed inspection around your house. Check for any water leakage in the pipelines, as they can lead to a much bigger problem – frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can burst and cost you some serious bucks in expensive repairs. If you do not address this issue on time, it will cause cracks and flooding once the ice melts in the frozen pipes. Take these steps to control the chances of frozen lines bursting in winter and causing flooding in the future:
- Insulate them properly.
- Use insulating tape or an old towel to wrap around the exposed pipelines
- If you leave your house unattended during low temperatures, let the faucets drip to prevent water from freezing
- Keep the cabinets open and allow the warm air to circulate near the kitchen sink pipes
- Block or cover any cracks and holes you find in the pipes and outer walls
2. Understand how your water system functions
Learning how your water system works is always a wise move. Most of the neighborhoods follow a different infrastructure for water flow. The more you know about the water system, the easier it is to navigate any possible water damage. Moreover, knowing the direction of water flow during a crisis will be helpful for you. Since it is difficult to interpret the water system yourself, reach out to a water damage restoration service and take their help.
3. Keep an eye out for clogged gutters
Overflowing or clogged gutters are another major cause of extreme winter water damage. Gutters get clogged because of many reasons. For instance, clogging caused by dead leaves and dirt curing fall is pretty standard. Whenever a gutter overflows, the water starts making its way to the outer walls and leaks inside the house. Later, mold builds up around the seepage, and internal water damage occurs. Something like this is no good for your home since it can cause long-term structural damage and devalue it. Therefore, keep an eye out for stuffed gutter lines and clean them on time.
4. Check your houseplants and remember their position
One of the most problematic areas is the place where you plant your houseplants. Yes, houseplants may seem like a safe zone, but they damage the property in numerous ways. They are those culprits nobody takes into account because they seem harmless. However, water damage restoration experts have identified and confirmed that houseplants cause leaks during winters.
The roots of these plants can cause some serious problems during the cold. Just like water, the plant’s roots keep making their way into the property. They start growing in the water pipes, sprinkler systems, septic tanks, and main pipelines. Not just that, but they can grow deep inside your home’s foundation and cause cracks. Such a mysterious invasion leads to unidentified leaks, and you might be too late to realize that.
Therefore, it is best to check your houseplants and get rid of the troublesome ones before winter begins. There is no point in keeping plants that can damage your house’s foundation and cause leaks everywhere. Also, if you are planning to replant some, try to plant them away from the water pipes for safety purposes.
5. Examine your roof for leaks
It is best to form the habit of examining your roof every season, especially before winter. Low temperatures can be harsh for the top of your humble abode and lead to permanent roof damage. Therefore, roofs need a timely inspection, so it is easier to identify any property damage. If you cannot locate any problem, it will become difficult to resolve it before winter.
Many people feel unsafe examining their roofs as they fear falling off of them. In that case, you can reach out to a professional roofing worker and schedule an appointment with them. Experts have more knowledge, and they will look for any possible leaks and insulation. In this way, you can avoid any permanent damage and seepage into your attic, all the while safeguarding your roof.
Conclusion
By following the tips discussed above, you can prevent any permanent winter water damage to your property. So do the needed and take good care of your home so that you can enjoy winters to the fullest without any worries. If not, you will face some unwanted repercussions and spend the entire winter season repairing the damages. After all, minimizing the damage before winter is the only way to cut down repair costs and have fun during the season.