3 Top Causes of Winter Water Damage in Alliance, Ohio

1/12/2023 (Permalink)

Cold temperatures can cause winter storm and water damage to your Alliance, Ohio home.

Strong winds, snow, rain, and ice during the winter months can take a toll on a home. Cold temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst. It can also damage property by allowing moisture to enter and cause water damage and mold growth.

3 Top Causes of Winter Water Damage

1.) Burst Pipes - Most people believe pipes burst from expanding ice. Rather, pipes break and burst due to buildup of water pressure between the faucet/outlet and the ice blockage. Causes of this include uninsulated pipes or pipes that run along unheated areas of your home.

2.) Gutters - Gutters that have not been cleaned of their Fall debris hold water which in turn freezes and adds additional weight and ice buildup to the gutters. This prevents water on warmer days to naturally go into the gutter and down into the downspout. This is known as an ice dam, when you see those large icicles hanging from the gutter it's usually a good sign you may have an issue. When ice dams become worse the melted snow on warm days gets backed up on the ice dam causing water to pool up and go back up under your shingles into the interior of your home.

3.) Outdoor Water Sources - Remove all outside hoses, drain them and store inside. Shut off all valves that supply water to the outdoor spigots. Make sure after turning off the water supply shutoff valves you flush any remaining water out of the line to prevent a frozen and ruptured outdoor water spigot when you turn water on in the Spring.

It is important to clean and dry your home and any materials that become wet after a water damage. Calling a professional water mitigation company can dry out your structure quickly and effectively. After 24 hours mold can begin to grow if the water wasn’t properly removed. If mold is found it can sometimes be removed from non-porous areas, but if it grows on porous materials it may have to be replaced.  Removing these materials in properly could spread the mold throughout a house. The team at SERVPRO of South & East Stark County have crews that are highly trained and IICRC certified in water and mold cleanup. Call us today at 330-823-3088.