Tampa - While you can’t change the weather, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) says you can minimize two of winter’s biggest threats to your home: ice dams and bursting pipes.
Ice Dams are an accumulation of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof. When interior heat melts the snow, water can run down and refreeze at the roof’s edge, where it’s much cooler. If the ice builds up and blocks water from draining off the roof, water is forced under the roof covering and into your attic or down the inside walls of your house. To help reduce the risk of ice dams:
Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris.
Keep the attic well ventilated so snow doesn’t melt and refreeze 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.
Bursting Pipes occur when frozen water causes a pressure buildup between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold. To keep water in your pipes from freezing:
Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer.
Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.
Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.
In a severe storm, blowing snow could collect on the leeward (downwind) side of a higher-level roof. To minimize the chance that your roof will collapse, consider having the snow removed by a qualified contractor. Also, look for heavy snow accumulation in stairwells and against walls and windows. Melting snow can cause water damage to your home.
For more information on how to protect homes and businesses, visit the IBHS web site www.disastersafety.org. You can also call 1-866-657-IBHS (4247) to request a free copy of the brochure, Protect Your Home Against Damage From Freezing Weather.
IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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