7 Ways Winter Weather Damages Your Home

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The winter months are brutal in your Minneapolis, MN, home. Extreme temperatures, snow, and ice cause damage to your roof, pipes, electrical systems, and more. Here is how winter weather damages your home.

Roof damage caused by ice dams.

Ice dams are caused by water melting and refreezing on your roof. More often than not, this occurs at the eaves of your home where snow accumulates. Water that freezes builds up on the eaves. It surrounds your gutters and potentially reaches over your gutters to drip down onto the side of your house or in some cases into an attic.

 

If you have an ice dam, it causes significant damage to your property. If left unchecked for too long, water intrusion may occur in these areas:

  • Roof - This is the most common way for ice dams to cause damage by leaking inside your home. 

  • Attic/Basement - Leaking into attics/basements usually occurs when water runs down walls before freezing in place around windows and doors.

Pipes freeze and burst. 

Pipes freeze and burst when the air temperature around them falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When this happens, the water inside the pipe starts to freeze, expanding to form ice that narrows the pipe’s opening. As more water freezes, eventually, all of it becomes solid ice and the pressure builds up inside the pipe until it bursts. This causes major damage to your home.

If you have an older home with metal pipes, they are especially susceptible to freezing temperatures in wintertime. They definitely won’t recover from freezing quite as well as plastic ones do!

Water leaks inside your home from melting ice and snow.

Water seeps in through the smallest of cracks, so you need to be aware of any holes your home may have. Even if you don’t see snow on the ground or ice on your roof, there may still be water damage inside your house.

 

The more porous materials that make up your home—such as wood and drywall—are particularly susceptible to moisture damage. Since these materials are so absorbent, they easily absorb water from melting snow and ice. When this happens, mold develops and causes interior and structural damage.

Falling tree limbs cause damage.

Tree limbs are weighed down because of heavy snow and ice. When this happens, this causes damage to the exterior of your home. During the winter months, it's important to check for and remove tree limbs that are at risk of damaging your property. If not properly removed, damages to your home include:

  • Damaged siding

  • Damaged roof and Shingles 

  • Damaged Gutters 

Cracks in the caulk.

Cracks in the caulk inside your home are a major cause of damage. Caulk is used to sealing leaks, prevent mold and mildew growth, and more. Harsh weather conditions take their toll on your caulking materials.

 

There are different types of caulks that have different qualities. Some crack more easily than others based on temperature changes or age, while others may crack under pressure or moisture exposure. If you’re not sure which type works best for your needs, consult an expert who helps you find what works best for you!

Damage to the foundation.

The foundation of your house is also vulnerable to winter weather damage. The damage is caused by water seeping into cracks in the foundation. This kind of damage makes it more difficult to maintain your property because repairing cracks requires professional help.

Heating and electrical systems overwork themselves.

When the weather is frozen, you find that your heating system has to work harder than normal. This causes problems like:

  • Increased wear on your furnace or heat pump compressor

  • An increased risk of air duct leakage and other issues in the home’s HVAC system

  • Higher utility bills due to higher thermostat settings needed for comfortable indoor temperatures

In addition to the above, if you’re not careful about how you handle your HVAC system when it’s cold outside, you may end up causing even more damage, such as overworking your electrical system.

 

Winter weather is tough on your home. With the proper care and maintenance, it doesn't have to be devastating. If you are experiencing problems with your home during this time of year, AdvantaClean is ready to help. Our team is highly trained and experienced in winter weather mitigation and restoration. Give our AdvantaClean of Southwest Minneapolis team a call today!

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