Be Prepared for Winter Storms

2/15/2019 (Permalink)

Preparing BEFORE the storm is the best way to weather the storm!

A big snow storm or deep freeze is coming. How do you prepare so that your home suffers little or no damage? Can your roof support the weight of a few feet of snow? How do you keep your pipes freezing? Will ice dams present a problem?

Don’t wait! Heed early weather warnings and prepare before a snow storm or cold snap hits. Starting 48 hours early means you’ll get a lot more done than if you wait until the snow starts falling.

Can Your Roof Hold All That Snow?

Fluffy snow can weigh as little as 3 pounds per square foot compared with 21 pounds for wet, heavy snow, according to FEMA. Most roofs can support 20 pounds per square foot of snow, according to USA Today. If a portion of your home’s roof is flat, such as over a porch, take extra care to prevent snow and ice buildup there.

If Your Home or Business Has Suffered Storm-Related Damage, Including Frozen or Cracked Pipes, Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

And don’t forget about ice, which weighs 57 pounds per square foot. An inch of ice equals about a foot of fresh snow, so 4 inches of ice on your roof could put your roof at risk of collapse.

Don’t Let Water Pipes Freeze

Planning ahead is the key to protecting your water pipes. If you lose power, if your furnace malfunctions or if pipes located next to exterior walls get too cold, your pipes can freeze and burst, resulting in lots of water damage.

Keep your house warm by using a generator or other alternative source of heat, like a wood or coal stove. Seal your home’s doors and windows, insulate openings in your attic and wrap insulation around your pipes.

Prevent Ice Dams

When ice builds up at the edge of your roof, it forms a dam that keeps melting snow from draining properly. Then the water backs up into your walls, ceilings and insulation.

If Your Home or Business  Has Suffered Storm-Related Damage, Including Frozen or Cracked Pipes, Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Stop ice dam removal by adding insulation above the ceiling and increasing roof ventilation to keep the roof area warmer and prevent ice buildup. Inspect your roof's drainage, keep gutters and downspouts clean, and trim trees to keep leaves to a minimum. You can even install self-regulating heat cables on gutters, downspouts and roof drains.

More Information on Our Blog

Visit the SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield blog to find many informative articles on how to prevent and recover from winter storm damage.

We're Here For You

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in storm damage restoration, water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, commercial services and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield

Top 50 Franchise Nationally
We serve Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartland, Enfield, Granby, North Granby, Riverton, Suffield, West Granby, West Hartland and West Suffield, Connecticut.

100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860.216.2785
24-hour emergency service

If Your Home or Business Has Suffered Storm-Related Damage, Including Frozen or Cracked Pipes, Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785