The coming winter months will bring increased water damage risks to your home. Winter is often cold, wet and can also bring snow and frost. Have a trouble-free home this Christmas by checking your home and proofing it for the winter.
Check your water pipes:
You should check your home for leaks annually. Your water supply could be showing signs of wear and tear that you might not have noticed. Pipes that are hidden or outside might have cracks leading to frozen pipes which will cause all sorts of damage.
Leaks can also come from piping from your ice machine, washing machine, hot water heater or any appliances. Replace rubber hoses for your water supply with steel-braided hoses which will last you much longer.
A frozen water pipe means water will expand with the freeze. This expansion can weaken and break up your pipes and cause too much pressure to build up and break them. You won’t notice a frozen pipe has broken until they thaw back out, and you have water everywhere, so therefore it is necessary to get this checked.
Clean the top of your home and gutters:
Clean out your gutters and inspect your roof which might have missing tiles or holes which will cause water to come through the roof. In the Autumn remove all the leaves and any dirt, which can clog gutters.
It can also cause water to flow over and freeze.
If you see any snow or icicles, then get them cleaned away straight away as they will clog up your gutters and won’t let your drainage system work properly.
Icicles that melt or drip into your home can cause unwanted mold and leaks. Cleaning your gutters and taking these away will prevent this.
Check your sump pump works:
A working sump pump is essential for any basement as it stops it becoming flooded after heavy rain and cold weather in the winter. Make sure you have it serviced and know how to use the machine properly.
Do not ignore mold:
You can check mold by obvious signs of it showing and for walls that feel cold to the touch. You can also spot mold by smell.
Condensation can be caused by windows being shut in the winter so no air escapes which is a massive cause of mold.
Mold can be toxic to the family home by breathing it in and will also cause lots of damage to the home if left untreated.
Avoid a sewer build-up:
Clear any snow or ice from your sewer vents to prevent them getting blocked up as sewerage could then leak back into your home.
Add water to drains and keep them flushed regularly.
Install heating in your attic if you can to stop freezing.
Emergency action:
If by chance your pipes do end up freezing, then turn off your water at the stop tap immediately and turn off the heating.
Thaw out the frozen pipes with a hot water bottle or hot towels.
Put plugs out of the way and drain your system.
Make sure you and your family know where the stopcock is.
A severe leak or rupture can take only minutes to cause severe damage so this is essential. If damage has occurred, then call ZGreen Restoration immediately for emergency help.
We can also carry out these checks on your home for you.
ZGreen Restoration is a certified restoration business. It is an IICRC-certified firm, which means we adhere to a higher standard than other companies. Trust in our fire restoration experts to get your house back in order. We are happy to discuss any of the points raised in this blog or how to restore your home after a natural disaster.
Call us for a free quote 24/7 on 408-212-6034
