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Top Causes of Winter Water Damage in Westport, CT
11/23/2021 (Permalink)
Our team is on call 24/7 to provide emergency services for winter water damage cleanup in Westport, CT.
Winters in Connecticut can be unforgiving, bringing bitter cold temperatures and slamming our state with snowstorms.
Unfortunately this winter weather can spell some trouble and cause water damage in your Westport, CT home or business.
As your local water damage restoration specialists in Westport, SERVPRO of Westport/Fairfield is outlining the top three causes of winter water damage to help you avoid them this winter!
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Top 3 Causes of Westport Winter Water Damage
The top three causes of water damage during the winter include:
- Burst pipes
- Ice dams
- Outdoor water sources
Burst Pipes
Burst pipes in Westport are perhaps the most costly form of winter water damage.
When a pipe freezes and bursts, it can pour out 2-8 gallons of water per minute.
Depending on the location of the burst pipe, water can affect multiple floors of your home or even completely flood your basement.
However, there are steps you can take to help prevent a burst pipe in your Westport home or business.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas of your property
- Leave sink cabinet doors open to warm pipes
- Let water drip from faucets when extremely cold
- Do not leave your home without the heat on, as dropping temperatures can freeze pipes
Ice Dams
Ice dams form when your attic is warmer than freezing, which raises the temperature of your roof.
The warm top part of the roof melts snow, which flows down to the edges of the roof. Here, the melted snow re-freezes. This is because this part of the roof hangs over your home, and isn’t heated by the warm attic.
As this process repeats, it creates a large mass of ice on the edge of your roof that traps water underneath it. Over time, this water will back up underneath your roof shingles, penetrate the roof decking, and leak into your attic.
Ice dams can cause serious damages across your home, including:
- Roof damage
- Wet insulation
- Water-damaged walls, floors, or ceilings
- Ceiling leaks
- Roof leaks
- Mold growth
- Peeling or bubbling paint
Outdoor Water Sources
Outdoor water sources refer to any hoses or pools of water that can freeze similarly to the pipes inside of your home and cause water damage to its interior.
This could be an undrained hose, spigot, or lawn sprinkler system. If any of these freeze and burst, the water from them could quickly backflow into your home.