What Damage Could A Winter Storm Do To Your Home?

12/3/2019 (Permalink)

You may not realize how much damage a winter storm can do to your home, but here in Middle Tennessee, they can actually be pretty destructive. 

Winter storms that bring snow, ice, and heavy winds and rains can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home and property. This damage can result from:

• Ice Dams. An ice dam is a buildup of ice on the roof of your home. It occurs when melting snow refreezes and blocks other snow from draining properly. This can lead to a buildup of standing water that can then leak into your walls or ceilings. Ice dams can even loosen shingles or gutters.

• Destroyed Roofs. A winter storm can cause roof damage in other ways, as well; ice and high winds can rip the gutters or tiles off your roof, for example. These same winds can also blow tree branches on top of your roof, and if these are heavy branches, they can fall through the roof and harm the inside of your home.

• Frozen Pipes. Even if there is no snow outside, cold weather alone can be harmful to your house. Freezing temperatures can cause unheated pipes to freeze and subsequently burst. This can lead to severe water damage both inside and out. Water around your foundation can end up in your basement. 

• Leaking Exterior Windows and Doors. If these areas of your home are not properly prepared, the winter damp will invade your home and affect flooring, walls, and even the structure itself. 

How To Prepare

There are some practical steps you should take to limit damage to your home during a winter storm, such as cleaning gutters and rain spouts in advance to prevent ice dams. You should also secure your roof tiles and trim any tree branches and shrubbery that is too close to the house or to your power lines.

Before a winter storm arrives, take a trip to the store and purchase emergency supplies such as shovels and non-perishable food. And finally, make sure to insulate any pipes that are outdoors or in low-heat areas such as basements and garages.

Even if you prepare accordingly, a winter storm can cause damage to your home. SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville is a trusted leader here in the Nashville area when it comes to renovation and repair services to homes and businesses, and we can be onsite right away to help you recover and get back to normal after a winter storm.