5 Ways Water Damage Can Occur During The Winter Months

Freezing temperatures and the accumulation of snow in winter can cause serious water damage to your home. Here are 5 ways that water can damage your home during the Winter months if you're not careful.

1. Frozen Pipes

This is one of the most common types of damage during winter. Freezing temperatures cause the water in your home's pipes to freeze. This causes the H2O molecules to expand. If those pipes expand too much, they will burst. Burst pipes bring unwanted damage to homes, buildings, and properties all of the time and are definitely an issue you will want to avoid.

2. Leaking Water Heater

The temperature of the cold water can drop about 25 degrees during the winter season. This forces water heaters to work even harder in order to heat up. When an aged heater is constantly running and working extra hard, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to leak or worse, burst. This leads to flooding and damage to your home. To avoid this mess, we advise you to check your unit for any faulty pipes, unusual noises, or leaks. These are common signs that there’s something wrong.

3. Melting Snow & Overflowing Gutters

Melting snow on your roof poses a major threat. If too much melted snow accumulates, you’re at risk for flooding or even mold growth. This small detail is often overlooked by homeowners. Also, be sure to clean out gutters as well since leftover water can freeze and damage them.

Ice can block the gutter, causing it to overflow and spill over the sides. This water can seep into the foundation of your home and even flood your basement. To prevent this from happening, clean your gutters regularly especially towards the end of winter.

4. Poorly Insulated Pipes

If a water line is exposed to outside temperatures, it must be properly insulated. Winter months mean dropping temperatures, which creates a major risk for frozen or ruptured pipes.

Avoiding broken pipes is made simple by purchasing some pipe insulation made of foam or fiberglass. You can purchase these from a nearby hardware store. These materials will keep the pipe protected to avoid water from freezing during winter.

5. Ruptured Outdoor Water Lines

While the main water lines must be left on in the winter, it’s a smart idea to turn off any exterior lines like garden hoses and sprinkler systems. Pipes with running water increase the risk of potential damage because when the water becomes frozen within a pipe, there is the possibility that it will burst. However, when the source is cut off, the water that is trapped inside will drain out. It's best to do this before the weather gets too cold.

As you can see, there are many ways that water can damage your home during cold weather. If you notice some damage in your home or office building, contact the Refined Restoration team today to take a look and tackle your problem!