The winter season reminds everyone of soft, white snow, hot chocolate, and warm cozy fires. All the cuddling aside, the winter months can also be bothersome with frozen pipes, ice dams, and weatherproofing jobs around the house. To ensure your home is safe from freezing temperatures and prepared with proper insulation against the cold, you must winterize your home properly. To help you stay warm even on those long, cold winter nights, we have prepared a list comprising winterizing tips for your home.
1. Pipe Protection
Water in the pipes may freeze during the winter. Because water expands when it freezes, the ice formed in the pipes may cause them to burst. A burst pipe can cost you a hefty sum and cause water damage to your home. Even if your pipes don’t burst, the expansion of water may cause excessive wear and even ruptures to your pipes. Therefore, weatherproofing is always recommended to insulate your pipes with foam insulation. Sealing air leaks with caulk indoors can help safeguard your indoor pipes from freezing.
2. Weatherproofing
Installing weatherproofing materials will keep your home insulated from the cold. Cold air will not be able to enter your home with the installation of storm doors, door sweeps, and windows.
3. Cleaning Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is a crucial part of ensuring that the winter snow melts and drains properly. It is a good practice to clean your gutters as soon as fall is over. Cleaning your gutter involves the prevention of clogging due to leaves and other debris. Gutter guards can also be installed to ensure debris and leaves can be brushed off easily from your gutter.
4. Clearing and Preventing Ice Dams
An ice dam is a thick ice formation on the edge of your roof, preventing proper water and snow drainage. It is important to get rid of ice dams as quickly as possible as this ice build-up can ruin your roof and seep into your home. A roof rake can be used to pull off soft snow from your snow before it has the chance to melt and refreeze into an ice dam. If the ice dam has already formed, you can use chipping methods or chemical deicers to get rid of ice dams, but these methods may end up damaging your roof if performed incorrectly.
5. Winterize Your Roof
Wind, snow, and ice can cause irreparable damage to your home roof. Winterizing your roof before the first snow is key to ensuring your roof has a long life and can withstand extreme temperatures. For weatherproofing and protecting your roof, you should: clear your roof of debris, inspect it for any signs of deterioration or damaged shingles, install snow guards, and ensure the attic is properly ventilated and has no signs of water damage. This way, your roof can be properly prepped for the harsh winter weather.
Contact STOP Restoration of Spokane for Freezing Weather Damage Restoration!
There are plenty of ways you can winterize your home, but somehow your roof could still end up getting damaged from the freezing weather and ice. If you are looking for reliable restoration and weather damage services in Spokane, call the most professional restoration experts at 509-818-7744 for immediate help. Please visit our website or send us a message here for any inquiries or additional details.
