Water Damage Restoration Tips: Prepare For Winter Weather In Troy
October is the month that the growing season ends across Southeast Michigan, and we need to get ready. While the weather patterns are changing, we homeowners have until October 29th to prepare for the first frost. Take this opportunity to maintain the exterior and even make repairs to avoid water damage when the snow arrives.
Prepare For Winter Weather (Before You Have Water Damage)
- Check for drafts
- Winterize the garden
- Confirm the heater is ready
- Avoid ice dams
- Do what you can to prevent burst pipes
- Contact the professionals
Check For Drafts
Your house loses the most heat during the winter through the cracks around your doors and windows. Maintain the weatherstripping to seal gaps between windows and window frames (and doors and door frames.) Replace worn door sweeps to keep cold air, snow, and ice from entering. Focus extra effort on the large span of the garage entrance.
Winterize The Garden
Pick the day and stick with it. Before the first hard freeze, remove the hoses and store them in the garage or shed. Drain the faucet and install an outdoor faucet cover. While you are working, double-check the hose bib for any damage; the pipes can get knocked around over the summer.
Prepare your sprinkler system per the manufacturer’s and installers’ instructions.
Confirm The Heater Is Ready
Get on the schedule with your HVAC service before winter hits. Make sure your unit is cleaned and working properly. Maybe this is the year to upgrade. Modern, energy-efficient heaters can lower your utility bills significantly. Improved efficiency (and rebates) can justify replacing that old, cumbersome, dirty relic in your basement.
Avoid Ice Dams
Ice dams can form along the gutters when snow and ice melt faster on the rooftop than along the edges. Now the melting flow backs up, builds up, and adds a lot of weight. The pressure from this moisture can cause roof failure and leaks behind the siding.
To prevent an ice dam, you must not let the center of the roof get warmer than the edges. It’s not something that you are going to fix in February; correct problems in your attic now. Use a flashlight and walk through the space. Identify wet, moldy, compressed, or damaged insulation. Keep the heat that you paid for within your home, not seeping out the top.
Do What You Can To Prevent Burst Pipes
In Troy, there are 132.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing. All Michigan residents know to plan for the hard freeze. On the coldest days, set your faucets to a slow drip. A little trickle will keep the water from freezing completely in the cold pipes. Open the cabinet doors on the sinks on exterior walls; mixing the warmer air from your interior home will protect you from outside air that leaks in.
And when a cold snap hits, don’t go cheap! Trying to save a few heating dollars can result in thousands of dollars in water damage. Bump up the thermostat a couple of degrees on the coldest days. (Since you prepared and repaired those leaks and drafts, it will all work out.)
Contact The Professionals
When your Michigan home is damaged by winter weather, it is crucial to choose a contractor to help you safely and quickly through the restoration process. All water damage restoration experts are certified by the IICRC and equipped with the most advanced tools and procedures in the water damage restoration industry.
Choose a contractor who is certified, licensed, bonded, and insured. On-Site Specialty Cleaning & Restoration will respond to your service call at your facility for any emergency. Procedures and protocols ensure the prevention of further degradation: mold, structural damage, and biohazardous conditions. Call our team today.