Winter presents homes with numerous concerns, including ice walkways and frozen pipes. However, with the correct planning and upkeep, homeowners can be better equipped to deal with anything Mother Nature throws their way.
In this article, we’ll cover the six issues homeowners tend to face during winter and how to remedy those issues. From keeping the home warm to preventing ice dams, this article will provide helpful advice on winterizing your home and protecting it from the elements.
This article is a must-read for every new or old homeowner who wishes to keep their house in tip-top form through the cold season.
Water Heater Breakdowns
In the dead of winter, a water heater is a lifesaver. However, you use too much hot water for everything around the house. You might have leaks, inappropriate heating, ignition burner issues, or noisy bursts.
Suppose your water heater has an annoying intermittent problem or has finally chosen to give up the ghost this winter. In that case, you couldn’t have picked a worse time for it to go out on you.
Inadequate maintenance or age makes this the wrong moment for a water heater to go down. Problems with a water heater might result in poisoning from carbon monoxide or even fires.
Damage to the water heater and its surroundings might be extensive if a pipe bursts due to the expansion of frozen water. Boilers might fail in the winter because of inadequate insulation.
Solution
Annual inspections by a competent technician will assist in keeping the water heater in good working order, extend its life, and ensure the system is operating securely.
To avoid issues and lessen their impact when they arise, performing routine maintenance, insulating properly, and taking preventative measures are essential.
While living in California, our water heater got busted, and we needed to replace it. We aren’t going to lie; water heater replacement can be a colossal expense that can through your budget way out of proportion. Luckily, the contractor we used also provided add-on services for free.
That’s why we always recommend that precaution and prevention are better than the cure. Take adequate maintenance steps so you don’t go down the same road.
Flooding
Intense precipitation and wet seasons make flooding a reasonable possibility, yet, the absence of such conditions is no guarantee that flooding won’t occur. Flooding is considered to be one of the most common winter plumbing problems.
Snow will naturally accumulate around your house during a snowfall because of the rapid accumulation. Until it starts to melt, this is OK. The melting snow might swiftly flood your basement if your home needs to be well-insulated and secured.
Large quantities of water will seep right into the soil close to your house’s foundation. Because snowmelt water doesn’t follow the same paths as steady rain, it can quickly flood low-lying areas like laundry vents and basement windows.
For homeowners without flood insurance, the price tag to fix the damage caused by winter floods can be steep. In most cases, standard homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Hence additional coverage is required.
Solution
Install backflow valves and sump pumps that prevent water from entering a home. Keeping the gutters and downspouts free of leaves and other debris is essential for proper drainage.
Suppose an area is particularly vulnerable to flooding. In that case, it may be necessary to raise it off the ground or construct flood barriers such as berms.
Sewer Backups
All your pipes, including the sewage line, can freeze in extremely cold weather. Washing or flushing items like starchy meals or frying grease down the drain might exacerbate this issue.
If the temperature drops below freezing, this might freeze and produce a clog in your plumbing system. Raw sewage can go back into a home’s drains if the sewer system is overwhelmed. What is the outcome? Damage to walls, floors, and furniture is both costly and unsightly.
Sewer systems are often overwhelmed by the volume of melting snow since they were not designed to handle such high water pressure. Sewage will back up inside a house because of the unexpected influx of water. The root of these issues is often found on the ground floor itself.
Sewer systems face additional challenges as cities expand. When asphalt and other constructions are built over natural drainage zones, water cannot escape. There is a backup in the sewage system because water cannot drain adequately.
Solutions
Sewer problems can be prevented or mitigated by performing routine maintenance on the system. In addition, you should cut back on water use during the colder months.
Because of this, sewage backups may be prevented or at least delayed. Sewer backups may be avoided by properly disposing of grease and oil. It is possible to stop sewage from entering a home through the basement by installing a backflow prevention valve.
Burst Pipes
Because water expands when it freezes, the ice volume in the pipes throughout the winter is more than that of the liquid water that used to flow through them.
Due to all that ice, the pressure in the pipes increases. Most pipes burst because they can’t handle the pressure of the expanding water inside them when it freezes.
The expansion of the ice forces the liquid water to move toward the closed faucet. As a result, water pressure builds up between the ice and the tap until the pipe bursts, usually in a spot with relatively little ice.
We recommend draining and refilling water pipes to prevent frozen pipes this winter. An average temperature of roughly 20 degrees Fahrenheit represents the threshold at which the risk increases. This could be a dangerous sign if water is not flowing or running more slowly than usual.
Solution
Pipes can be protected from freezing by wrapping them in insulation. Particular attention must be paid to pipes that are either placed in unheated spaces or are exposed to the elements.
Many experts consider the attic and basement, among others to be some of the most important areas to insulate in your home.
Ice Dams
Ice dams are ridges of ice that grow at the roof’s edge and hinder water from melting snow from escaping the roof. When water accumulates behind a dam, it can seep through cracks in the foundation and cause structural damage to a building.
They are called dams because they stop snow from melting and draining off your roof into your gutters. Instead, this backlog might seep inside, creating a pooling problem that could lead to costly water damage. Ice dams can tear it off the roof if they gain enough weight.
Ice dams are a common problem that can lead to roof and plumbing failures. When water builds up behind an ice dam, it can seep through cracks in the roof, walls, and windows.
Walls, ceilings, and floors can all be damaged in this way, making repairs complex and costly.
High energy costs may be caused by ice dams as well. Snow and ice buildup on a roof can impair attic insulation and airflow, making it harder for the property to maintain a comfortable interior temperature.
Solution
It’s important to use caution when attempting to remove ice dams from your roof so that you don’t harm your home’s structure. Calcium chloride pucks could be your best bet if you can’t get rid of them by hand.
Tossing them up there will quickly melt the ice. This procedure keeps the surface in pristine condition and generates pockets that allow the sun to melt snow and ice off the roof.
Peeling paint
Having to deal with peeling throughout the winter is a common concern for homeowners. Paint that is chipping or peeling may indicate the presence of excess moisture, which can promote the growth of mold if not addressed.
Humidity levels indoors tend to rise when the weather outside cools. Paint might become damp from this indoor humidity rise and peel and blister. Mold and mildew, which thrive in damp environments, are another source of harm to both paint and the surface beneath it.
Winter weather is characterized by low temperatures, snow, ice, strong winds, and sometimes heavy rain. The paint on an exterior wall can be worn away by wind and rain, exposing the wall to further deterioration.
Peeling paint in the winter is often the result of improper surface preparation. When painting, it’s essential to thoroughly clean and prepare the surface to provide a good paint job and prevent peeling.
Solutions
Homeowners must select paint that will hold up well against the surface and the harsh winter weather. For example, it’s best to use oil-based paint on wood in the winter because it stands up better to damp and cold.
Apply the paint in thin coats, waiting for each coat to dry thoroughly in between applications. This will reduce the likelihood of paint flaking off due to excessive thickness-related cracking.
Final Words
For homeowners, winter may be a challenging season, especially in regions where temperatures drop, and storms are expected. However, preparing your home for winter can save you time and energy.
Homeowners will be better prepared for any problems if they follow the advice provided in this article. Preparing your home for winter may save you a lot of time and hassles later on.
