As if slippery sidewalks and snow-covered cars aren’t
bad enough during the winter, you face another potential
headache: ruined carpets and water damage to your ceilings
and walls from leaks caused by ice dams or bursting
pipes. You may be able to avoid the resulting aggravation
and expense by taking basic steps right now to prevent this
kind of damage.
Ice Dams
An ice dam is an accumulation of ice at the lower edge of
a sloped roof, usually at the gutter. Once an ice dam forms,
the potential damage can be serious. Take these steps now
to avoid trouble later:
• Keep the attic well-ventilated. The colder the attic, the
less melting and refreezing on the roof.
• Keep the attic floor well insulated to minimize the amount
of heat rising through the attic from within the house.K-950-E (0213)
Freezing Pipes
Frozen water in pipes can cause water pressure buildup
between the ice blockage and the closed faucet at the end
of a pipe, which leads to pipes bursting at their weakest
point. To keep water in pipes from freezing, take the following
steps:
• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to
slow the heat transfer.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations
near water pipes with caulking.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets
connected to pipes that run through an unheated or
unprotected space.
Keep these in mind to reduce your severe winter
weather risk.
