3 Things to do in the Fall to Prevent Winter Water Damage - New Bedford 02740

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

There’s something special about Fall in the south coast. Between the leaves changing colors and the temperatures dropping and sweater-weather making its official comeback, it’s easily a favorite season for many. For homeowners, however, it’s also an important season to consider when it comes to preventing winter water damage. 

Common causes of water damage include leaks, burst pipes, and drainage issues. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help prevent these issues from arising in the cold winter months:

1. Clean your gutters.

You may ask, “What does this have to do with water damage?” When your gutters are clogged, this stops the outward flow of water collected in your gutters. Leaves are often the guilty party in this. When water isn’t flowing out of your home, you can bet that it’s floating in. Thankfully, this is an easy issue to address. 

2. Insulate areas in your home susceptible to freezing.

This goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: freezing temperature cause pipes to burst because the pipes are not well insulated (or protected) from the cold. When the temperatures drop, the water in the pipes freezes and expands causing the pipes to burst. When the temperature goes up and the water begins to flow, it flows out of the crack in the pipe and into the walls of your home or office. That can cause a major headache and disturbance. So before that has a chance to happen, make sure your walls are well insulated. 

3. Detach your hoses. 

This one is often overlooked. When it comes to putting away your gardening tools, it’s easy to forget the hoses. This is another important area to watch out for as we transition into the colder months. Remember to detach your hoses, drain them, and insulate the faucet so it doesn’t freeze from the outside temperatures. 

Again, these are just a few tips to get your home ready for the winter months. If one of these things are overlooked, it can easily cause water damage. If that happens, just know that SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford is here 24/7 to help with your water damage needs.