Avoiding Winter Water Damage in Chicago

Last week, we outlined several preventative maintenance tasks to help prepare your home for the coming winter. The mixture of warm air inside your home and freezing or near-freezing air outside can lead to leaky roofs, burst pipes, and costly water damage. Because of this, we recommend the following additional preventative measures:

Avoiding Winter Water Damage

1. Winterize Exterior Faucets: Turn off the water supply to your outside faucets. These are typically found in the basement. But remember, even though you have turned off the water supply, there is still water trapped in the pipes. So go outside and turn the faucet on until all of the water is drained from the line. It shouldn’t take long.
2. Avoid Ice Dams: An ice dam occurs when snow accumulates on your roof. When interior heat begins to melt this snow, water runs down the roof and eventually refreezes at the roof’s edge. This is what is known as an ice dam. The resulting dam blocks water from properly draining off the roof. With nowhere else to go, the water is forced under the roof covering and into your attic. To avoid this issue, keep your attic well-ventilated and keep the attic floor well-insulated.
3. Trim Branches: If there are any trees near your home, be sure to trim any branches hanging over your home or vehicles. With the added weight of snow, these branches can easily snap, damaging your home or car.
4. Vacations: If you plan to leave your home for an extended period of time during the winter, be sure to shut off and drain your water system. The last thing you want is to come home to burst pipes.
5. Water Damage Restoration: Still, despite our best efforts, water damage sometimes happens. And when it does, whether it is a broken pipe, leaky roof, etc., it is important to call a professional water extraction and water damage restoration company, like ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park. Chicago, IL