Tips to Protect Your Hoboken Home From Water Damage This Winter Season

11/29/2022 (Permalink)

Tips to Protect Your Hoboken Home From Water Damage This Winter Season

Water damage to your home can happen at any time of the year, but in the winter, your home may be especially susceptible. The wet weather and freezing temperatures can cause water to leak into the nooks and crannies of your house. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent this. Here are some tips to protect your Hoboken home from water damage this winter season.

Preventing Ice Dams on the Roof

Ice dams are formed when ice collects at the edges of a roof. This typically happens when the upper portion of a roof is warmer than the lower portion. Snow on the upper portion melts faster and runs down to the cooler part of the roof where it freezes again, creating an ice dam. These are problematic because they block the water from melting snow from flowing off your roof, causing the water to accumulate and seep into your house through tiny cracks or gaps. It can also result in mold and mildew growth on your roof. Mold removal and remediation is a delicate process and nipping water damage in the bud is the best way to avoid it. 

To stop ice dams from forming, you have to ensure that all parts of your roof are equally cold. This can be done by keeping your attic well-ventilated to maintain an evenly cold temperature. You should also seal any ceiling cracks or openings that may allow warm air from other parts of your house to enter the attic.

Clearing the Gutter

Keeping the gutter clear allows water to drain down and away from your roof, helping to keep water from collecting and creating a clog. You can do it yourself with gloves, a garden trowel, and a ladder, however, it may be better to get professional assistance, as this may be a bit dangerous. You can also install gutter covers to reduce the need to clear your gutter, but you should still check the gutter occasionally to ensure that it is not clogged with leaves and other debris, which are likely to collect at the corners and junctions. 

Keeping Your House Perimeter Dry

After you clear ice, snow, and water from your roof and gutter, you need to make sure to keep the foundation of your house dry as well. Melting snow surrounding the perimeter of your home can seep into the soil and enter your house through cracks or leaks in your windows and doors. It can also saturate your foundation and basement walls, increasing the chances of mold forming in your home. The best solution is to shovel the snow away from your house before it melts. You can also seal up gaps or other openings in your basement walls to prevent water from seeping in.

Watching Out for Frozen Pipes

Due to the cold temperatures in winter, water in your water pipes can freeze and lead to high internal pressure in the pipes. If the pressure continues to build up, it can be enough to rupture your pipes, causing a huge amount of water to be released into your home. To prevent frozen pipes, you can insulate water pipes located in places of your home with freezing temperatures. In especially cold temperatures, it is recommended to let your faucets drip slowly to relieve pressure in the event your pipes have frozen. If water from your pipes stops flowing completely, it is best to call a plumber as soon as possible!

If you already have water damage in your Hoboken home, we understand your headache! Water damage remediation is a delicate process that requires the removal of any water that is still on the premises and then the careful cleaning, sanitization and restoration of any property that has been damaged.

If you need help with water damage removal and restoration of your property, give us a call: (201) 656-0035

About SERVPRO Team Harvey

SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City is proudly owned by Lance and Jennifer Harvey - a husband and wife duo that owns three other SERVPRO locations, including SERVPRO of Holmdel/Aberdeen, SERVPRO of West Somerset County, and SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan. 

We understand the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it “like it never even happened.”