Take These Easy Steps to Protect Your Home From Winter Water Damage

October 24, 2020

It seems unbelievable, but the weather is already getting colder, and the ice and snow of winter are just around the corner. Western New York winters are nothing to take lightly, so you want to make sure you and your home are prepared for their worst effects. Otherwise, you’ll likely be in the market for a reliable water damage restoration company in Buffalo, NY when spring finally rolls around.

Fortunately, we have some quick and easy tips to help you get your home sealed up and protected against water that has a way of sneaking in during winter.

Clean the Gutters

This is really our top tip! Your gutters need to be cleaned in the late fall if you want to keep damage at bay and avoid calling a water damage restoration company in spring. Products like screens or foam inserts can help slow down debris in your gutters, but no product will stop it.

You should either clean them yourself or hire a gutter cleaning company to really give them a good scrub before winter starts. Otherwise, you’ll run into serious issues with water and ice buildup once the temperatures drop below freezing. Ice buildup can even become heavy enough to tear gutters right off of the house!

Check Your Home’s Perimeter

When we say the perimeter of your house, we mean checking out where the foundation meets the ground. This is the easiest place for water to enter your house, so it warrants a close inspection. First off, make sure it’s properly graded. This means making sure the ground slopes away from your home, even at a slight angle, all the way around. This might involve getting the shovel out, but it’s well worth your time.

You should also verify your downspouts are pointed well away from the house, and even buy extensions if necessary. Water coming down a spout has a tendency to pool where it lands, and you don’t want that spot to be anywhere near the foundation of the house.

Inspect the Outside of the House

Your windows and siding can also be a source of water damage. Leaks from windows or the roof usually reveal themselves as brown spots on the ceiling or wall. If you spot any of these discolorations, it’s time to do some investigating and call for repairs. You should also take a look at the attic and verify it’s properly insulated. An uninsulated attic will heat up and cause snow on the roof to melt, allowing water to work its way back up under the shingles.

Prepare for Winter to Avoid Problems This Spring

Preparing your home for winter is largely a matter of giving it a close look and patching up any small problems so they don’t grow into bigger ones. The team at Ahold of Mold Environmental knows all about getting homes ready for bad weather, so if you have any questions and want an expert opinion, don’t hesitate to call us. A little preparation before the winter season can prevent a lot of trouble come spring!

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Ahold of Mold Environmental is proud to serve the mold testing, air quality testing, water damage restoration, basement waterproofing, and basement restoration needs of customers in Buffalo NY, Williamsville NY, Cheektowaga NY, Amherst NY, Orchard Park NY, West Seneca NY, Clarence NY, Jamestown NY, Ellicottville NY, West Falls NY, Chautauqua NY, Bemus Point NY, Fredonia NY, Dunkirk NY, Westfield NY, Erie PA, Warren PA, and the surrounding areas.

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