Winter is Coming: Tips to Avoid and Treat Common Household Problems
Posted on November 7, 2017 by Advance Companies
Well guys, November has begun…
Ned Stark knows how serious winter is, and so do we. As a restoration company, we see a lot of home damage coming out of winter, and though we are happy to help you when needed, we still want you to protect your home. There are a lot of things that winter can do to damage your property, but lucky for you, there are a few ways you can either prevent or treat those problems.
Common Winter Problems
Black Mold
Black mold is often caused by water damage. Black mold requires a moist, warm, dark environment, which is usually curated by winter leaks in roofs and walls. Spores of the Stachybotrys Chartarum mold can be carried in through open windows or doors, and tracked in with shoes. Because mold is carried on wet leaves, ways to prevent it getting in your home in the first place are to keep windows and doors closed if you have wet leaves in your yard, and wipe shoes before entering.
Already have mold?
You can try eliminating the mold with a few DIY remedies, or you can call a restoration company to come and professionally remove the mold and prevent further growth.
Ice Dams
First of all, what are ice dams? “An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof, preventing proper drainage of melted snow and ice. The resulting water–having nowhere to go–can seep into walls and cause water and mold damage.” Because leaks in your home can often cause mold to grow, we definitely want to prevent ice dams. There are a few ways you can do this, most of them involving adding insulation to your roof, but an easier option is to remove the snow from your roof after heavy snow fall. You can do this with a snow rake. If it snows too often where you live and you’re unable to keep up on clearing your roof’s snow, try installing heat cables.
Already got ice dams?
Check out this helpful blog from Travelers.com.
High Heating Bills
We all understand the frustration of dealing with high heating bills in the winter.
Though this particular problem doesn’t cause home damage, we still feel it’s something that we can help you with. Here are a few ways to keep your home warmer this winter, which will in turn lower your electricity bills.
- Insulate your home: add some extra insulation to your home’s structure to keep the heat in!
- Don’t leave windows and doors open.
- Need new flooring? Try a thicker carpet to add some insulation. We can install any kind of carpet or flooring you choose!
- Repair any leaks or cracks in windows or roofing – cold air gets in through any small crevice, so make sure you’re properly sealed.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are fairly common in the winter due to heavy snowfall and melting snow. As a restoration company we are prepared to handle and restore any roof should it be damaged by snow, but we’d rather you were able to prevent this. So, here are a few ways to do so:
- Re-shingle your roof if you haven’t done so in more than 20 years. We know that’s a long time and re-roofing is no easy task, so have your roof inspected at least once a year to see if you really need to do this task.
- Inspect your attic – check your attic to see if it has any damage or degradation. Additionally, see if you can add extra insulation or support to compensate for colder weather and more weight on your roof.
- Repair and anticipate leaks – seal and reinforce any weak spots.
Already have roof leaks?
Make sure you don’t have any wet spots where mold could be growing. Do your best to temporarily seal the leak and clean up any damage until a restoration company can come repair it properly.
Cracked Driveway
The way asphalt and cement are made is such that colder weather can cause cracking and chipping around the edges. This can be a costly repair so seal up any existing cracks before winter settles in. Another option is to consider a heated driveway.
Already got a damaged driveway?
If your driveway is fairly old, consider getting a new top layer of driveway which will help it to last much longer and keep it attractively crack-free. Grading your driveway will help it look and feel brand new for only half the cost!
Cold weather might not be for everyone, but cold weather tips and damage prevention are. Hopefully you’ll give a few of these ideas a try this winter, and come out in spring with a beautifully undamaged home. If you have been less fortunate during past winter seasons, give Advance Companies a call and we’ll get your home back to the way it should be!
Categories: Tips
