With the cold months on the horizon, is your home up to it? You should be able to say where water is likely to make its way in when the temperature takes a turn. And have you put some time into your roof, pipes and gutters since last winter?
Those are questions that will give you pause if you have not been on top of things. You would not be the only one; in Hickory we see plenty of homeowners who do not consider water damage until they have a problem on their hands. We at United Water Restoration Group of Hickory know what transpires when an oversight in the fall is left unattended. We are there for you 24/7, fully licensed and insured, and our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Should you require assistance, pick up the phone at (704)-396-5381.
Then again, a bit of forethought now can spare you considerable trouble down the road. The fall season is as good a time as any to put your house in order ahead of the freeze. We put forward the following to ward off any winter water damage.
Clean and Inspect Your Gutters
Gutters are hard at work behind the scenes. But once they are clogged with leaves and other debris, the water has no outlet. It can pool by your foundation, run over the edge or get behind your siding. Freezing conditions will make of any trapped moisture an ice dam that forces its way under your roof.
When the leaves begin to come down, here is how to proceed:
- Clear out all the buildup, twigs and leaves from your gutters
- Put a hose to the downspouts and see that water is running through
- Downspouts should be taking water a couple of feet clear of the foundation
- Re-secure anything that is loose or sags
- Be on the lookout for rust, a crack or seams that have separated
Make sure to give your roof a once-over as well.
Protect Your Pipes Before the Freeze
In this part of the country, frozen pipes are a prime source of water damage. Water inside a pipe will expand as it freezes, enough to put a crack in some very solid plumbing. Thaw it out and you have a leak, or worse.
For the protection of your pipes:
- Put insulation on any exposed pipes in the garage, basement or crawl space
- Drain and put away outdoor hoses before a hard freeze
- Close off any gaps that let in the cold
- A slight drip from the faucet on the coldest of nights will take the pressure off
- Make note of where your main shutoff is
All too often people are made aware of their shutoff valve only after water is on the floor. Find yours today.
Check Your Roof and Attic
Rain, snow and ice are kept at bay by your roof. Damaged or absent shingles are an open invitation for water, which can go undetected until you spot a ceiling stain.
Go around the outside of the house and check for shingles that are missing, curled or cracked. If you can get in the attic without difficulty, look for daylight through the boards, dampness in the insulation or any moisture. Good ventilation and insulation in the attic will stave off ice dams so see that they are in order.
Seal Windows, Doors, and Foundation Cracks
Moisture and the cold will infiltrate the most minute of openings. Take a walk around the property this fall and put a seal on them.
See to it that you:
- Caulk the frames of windows and doors
- Where there is a draft, put in new weatherstripping
- Any cracks in the foundation should be filled
- Look at basement walls for the first hint of moisture
- Examine where the ground and foundation come together
Water will freeze and expand in even a small crack and make it bigger over the course of the winter.
Test Your Sump Pump
Do not count on your sump pump being there for you. Toss a bucket of water in the pit to be sure it will kick in and do its job. A sump pump that gives out in the midst of a thaw can have your basement flooded in hours.
What to do when water damage occurs
An unanticipated flood or a burst pipe can happen to anyone, no matter how well prepared. In such an event you want to act quickly; the faster the water is gone and the place dried, the better off you will be.
We are on hand to help you put things right at United Water Restoration Group of Hickory. Our 4.9 stars from 125 plus Google reviews are testament to the care we extend in our work. We provide free estimates and are here day or night. Let us put your home back in order with professional water damage restoration if you are hit with winter water damage, call (704)-396-5381.