The Icy Truth: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Home

Most homeowners don’t realize how much damage ice, snow and winter temps can cause to their biggest investment. Here are some of the top offenders, and tips to avoid the damage they can cause.

CLOGGED GUTTERS

Ice can build up in the gutters and create massive headaches and costly repairs. If too much ice builds up, the gutters become too heavy and can rip away, causing extensive and expensive damage to the house.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CLOGGED GUTTERS:

• Keep all gutters and downspouts clear. Be sure that leaves and debris are removed from your home’s gutters and downspouts, especially before the snow flies.
• During the winter, periodically check their condition, removing any snow or icicles that accumulate.
• Put away your ladder and your worries by having our year-round maintenance-free gutter protection system installed.

ICE DAMS

Ice dams form when warmth from inside a home causes snow on the roof to melt and trickle to the roof’s edge, where it refreezes. The result? Blocked gutters and drains. Since water can’t flow over the built-up ice, it seeps into the home under the shingles, often causing widespread damage to the roof and the home’s interior, including ceilings, walls, interior carpets and flooring.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ICE DAMS:

• Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris, as suggested above.
• Keep your attic well ventilated to help prevent snow melting and refreezing on the roof’s edge.
• Make sure the attic floor is well insulated to minimize the amount of heat rising through the attic from within the house. Our attic insulation is a fast, economical way to help prevent ice dams while saving on energy costs.

BURSTING PIPES

When frozen water causes a pressure build-up between the ice blockage and the closed faucet, pipes are susceptible to bursting. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable. Repairs to burst pipes can be costly and cause extreme inconvenience due to lack of running water in your home.

TO KEEP WATER IN YOUR PIPES FROM FREEZING:

• Protect exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to guard against extreme temps.
• Cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes should be sealed with caulking.
• Maintain a low flow of water through faucets connected to pipes that go through an unheated or unprotected space.