The cold season will be a huge threat to the homeowners if precautionary steps are not taken. Ice and snow can cause some serious problems. However, taking the proper precautions help in preventing damage. Here are three major threats the homeowners face during a cold. Let’s know about it.
Frozen Pipes
During winter seasons the water line falls below, if it goes down to 32 degrees, then the water will freeze. When the water transforms into ice, it will increase the pressure. If the pressure goes high, it bursts.
Sign of Frozen pipes
Turn your faucet on, if you get only a trickle of water then you might have a frozen pipe. If you doubt that you might have these problems, then do the below steps to prevent damage.
Keep the faucet open. The flowing water will melt the frozen areas and doesn’t allow ice to close off the pipe.
Generate heat around the pipe that is frozen. It’s enough to cover the pipes with an electric heating pad or hot cloth.
If you can’t find the frozen area, call a professional plumber.
Prevention
Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
If the temperature gets very low, keep the water line moving.
Keep your bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open. This helps to circulate warmer air from your home around the plumbing.
If you’ll travel during winter, leave the heat in & around your home and set the thermostat no lower than 55° F.
Maintain a consistent temperature throughout the day and night.
2. Sump Pump Failure
The sump pump should be working during the winter months to minimize the chances of frozen and burst pipes, also the water damage can be kept to a minimum. Your sump will help in eliminating moisture from your basement and prevent water damage.
Sump Pump Failure Prevention
Make sure the exit pipe is free of debris. Place the exit pipe outside.
Don’t increase the workload of a sump pump. This will keep a significant amount of snow from melting in your home. If a large amount of water is dispersed immediately, the sump pump could overheat, avoid it.
Maintain a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit in your home. The basement is an inherently cold space, so check the temperature here. Use a space heater to help maintain a consistent temperature, if required.
Insulate the intake and discharge lines to prevent them from freezing.
Use a larger discharge hose to allow more space for water to pass through.
3. Ice Dams
Ice Dams will be formed if a roof is covered in snow and the top portion of the roof is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. A ridge of ice is formed on the edges of the roof which will not allow the melting snow to drain off. Water stains or moisture in your attic or along the ceiling of exterior walls is also a sign that water has been flowing through the roof of your home. Removing the ice dams quickly will prevent your home from serious damage.
Constantly monitoring your pipes, sump pump, and roofline will prevent your home from severe damage during extreme temperatures.