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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

How Can Mount Vernon Properties Avoid Frozen Pipes and Ice Damming?

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

drawing of man bundled in winter clothing trying to thaw a frozen pipe with a hairdryer Be sure and winterize your home and pipes. An once of prevention can go a long way in deterring water damage.

SERVPRO Routinely Assists Mount Vernon Homeowners with Winter Water Damage Cleanup 

Mount Vernon homes are susceptible to winter water damage that, in many cases, can be limited if not prevented. The best time to winterize a home is in the fall to avoid the costly situation of a pipe freeze or roofing issues. 

SERVPRO has some recommendations for Mount Vernon homeowners to win against frozen pipes and ice dams. One of the best ways to handle this project is to get organized. Creating a checklist of areas to pay attention to inside and outside the home can make the winterization of the house easy. 

Checking Outside the Home

A roof leak can quickly turn into thousands of dollars of damages in a home. Some of the most common situations leading to this type of water damage are:

  • Ice dams forming on the gutters
  • Shingles damaged by ice 
  • Clogged gutters causing backflow

Gutters are Key to Avoiding Ice Dams

The gutters on a home get clogged with dirt, debris, pine needles, and leaves. If water flow gets restricted, snow and ice can build up on the gutters. The weight of this can cause them to pull away from the structure. Worse, when the snow melts on a roof due to lack of insulation in an attic, the water running down and hits the ice, and snow on top of gutters can cause backflow under shingles and enter the property. 

Inspecting a Roof Safely

Homeowners can inspect their roofs without climbing on a ladder. Using a pair of binoculars, homeowners can look for cracked or missing shingles. If damage is found or suspected, SERVPRO techs can inspect the areas that may need attention, such as the flashing around chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys. A proactive review can pinpoint regions likely to have ice damming issues and minimize the potential. 

Frozen Pipe Prevention

Winterizing sprinkler systems and outside lines is important by bleeding the pipes and shutting off the interior valves. Wrapping faucets with Thinsulate can help avoid a pipe burst when freezing temps hit. 

SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 helps local Mount Vernon property owners avoid winter water damage from frozen pipes and ice damming through prevention. The technicians are available for cleanup and restoration 24/7.

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