14 Ways Winter Storms Can Damage Your Home

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

• Snow and Ice strain the roof – the excess weight of even a minimal amount of snow can weaken your roof – it is always a good idea to have your roof inspected once a year – especially so if the roof is more than ten years of age
• Ice dams weigh on your gutters – uh…gutters…mine are a mess and I don’t even want to think about how much damage freezing ice can do throughout the winter - *Clean your gutters every year!
• Cold cracks caulk – most people don’t realize that ongoing cold weather causes caulk to pull away from windows and may lead to leaks
• Winter remedies damage your driveway – salt and melt-away products are typically harsh and should be rinsed away as soon as possible – this is also true of your vehicle – GET THE SALT OFF!
• Snow and Ice snap tree limbs – I have written about five blogs on the dangers of trees too close to your home – here is another reason to create a safe perimeter – if too much snow or ice weighs heavy on a tree or limb – look out below!
• Freezing temperatures can affect your plumbing – if the temp is expected to drop below 25 degrees for several days – take precautions to keep your pipes from freezing
• Wet conditions rot doorframes – not just rom snow and ice but from improper drainage issues as well – water can do more damage than you can imagine
• Shoveling chips and cracks steps and driveways – a heavy plastic snow shovel will eliminate chips and damage from shoveling
• Melting snow leaks into the basement – make sure your crawlspace is and the seal on your foundation is in-tact to prevent such an expensive calamity as water intrusion
• Changing temperatures can crack the chimney – have your chimney swept and inspected annually
• Intense weather changes damage your deck – you should properly stain and seal your deck with six months of installation and re-apply every year.
• Cold weather can freeze your sump pump – keep your basement as warm as possible to prevent this issue
• Freezing temps can damage your vinyl siding – check your siding after winter events to make sure a small repair does not become a large one
• Ice and frost can damage your foundation – this is usually prevented with proper drain spout extensions directing water away from your foundation

Please call SERVPRO of Sussex County today for any winter weather concerns – 302-856-9768!