Ice Damage

Cold weather climates are accompanied by particular threats that homeowners must be extra careful about. If cold weather vigilance is not taken seriously, a number of scenarios could cause severe damage to your home, requiring ice damage restoration specialists to make significant repairs. As you feel a chill returning to the air, here are important things to consider:

Frozen Pipes

When pipes freeze, it causes pressure to build up—which can lead to the pipe bursting. When the ice thaws, your home runs the risk of suffering flood damage which can cause considerable destruction throughout your home.

• Many homeowners in cold climates insulate their pipes. Talk to a contractor about installing the insulation or do it yourself by buying the materials from a hardware store.
• Disconnect hoses and provide insulation to any outdoor piping, as well.
• Consider a thorough analysis of your home’s insulation. Cracks, decay, corrosion, and other issues could disrupt the insulation and greatly lower temperatures. If your home becomes unusually cold then it’s a good idea to check this issue.
• Leading up to the extreme temperatures, let all your faucets and outdoor hosing drip until there is no water present in the piping.
• You may also consider shutting off the water supply entirely shortly before the temperature drops. This, of course, should be undertaken on a case-by-case basis and will require prior preparation (such as buying jugs of water for toilets, etc.)

Checking for Ice Damage in Pipes

A frozen pipe is easy to detect because the water in your house will either be slow, or stop entirely. It may be necessary to either call a plumber or locate the piping yourself and expose it to gentle warmth (for instance, a blow dryer, never use fire) until water resumes.

If a pipe is broken, it’s not always immediately apparent, which poses a risk for homeowners. You must be very careful to notice signs of mysterious water leakage or dripping. Sometimes signs of water leaks from within the wall are only noticeable if the dry wall changes color or appears distorted. Leaking water can accumulate and create more and more damage over a long period of time.  Resulting in mold growth or even a sudden flooding of the house. If you suspect ice damage has caused interior water leakage in your house, it’s best to contact a restoration contractor as soon as possible.

Ice Damage in the Attic

 After a cold weather spell, it’s also important to inspect the roof and attic for water damage. A warm underside of a roof melts ice, and the water will flow to the colder section of the roof to freeze again. The ice builds up, blocking proper irrigation of water, and the pooled water begins to seep through the shingles and sub-roofing, ending up in the attic. Check the attic itself for any signs of leaking water, and look for signs of water damage in the dry wall (discoloration and warping.)

What to Do After Ice Damage Hits

Parts of your home may require water damage restoration service after a severe cold weather front. At LBR Restoration Services  we have a lot of experience with ice damage related restoration projects here in the cold Chicago area. You can contact us now at 630-534-3032 to learn more.