Protect Your Home From Winter Storms

1/8/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Here To Help with storm damage.

Winter storms can be beautiful to look at and play in, but they also can cause damage to your home. Here are some tips to help protect your home from the costly damage winter storms can bring.

Take Care of Your Roof.

• Keep your gutters clear. This keeps ice from accumulating and backing up under the shingles.

• Trim trees year-round. This helps keep branches from falling on your house.  

Prevent Ice Dams

• Eliminate heat sources under the roof, such as lights and heaters in the attic, that can contribute to thawing.

 • Keep the attic cool and ventilated to stop or slow the refreezing cycle.

• Consult a roofing professional to remove snow or standing water before an ice dam can form.

• Avoid trying to chip any ice dams off your roof, as you could damage the roof. Ask a roof specialist for help instead.

Prevent Water Damage

• Ventilate the attic and insulate the attic floor to stop warm air in the house from melting snow and ice on the roof.

• Wrap exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or 2 inches of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-listed heat tape.

• Caulk cracks and holes in the home's outer walls and foundation. Holes left by cable installation can also leave pipes exposed.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around pipes.

• Trickle water from faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces.

• Locate the home's main water valve — typically in the basement or outside near the curb — so you can turn water off quickly if a pipe does burst.

• If you leave the house unoccupied for an extended period, shut off the water and have a professional drain the system. Turn the heat down, but don't turn it off.

If your home or business is affected by storm damage, Call SERVPRO of Blackwood/Gloucester Twp. 856-227-7800. We are Here To Help.