Winter Property Damage Prevention
With winter on its way, now is the time to prepare your home. The season brings with it cold winds, below zero temperatures, and snow. We’re all guilty of neglecting some home maintenance tasks, but failing to prepare your home for winter can be costly.
Here are a few things you should keep an eye out for to prevent potential damage to your home.
Cracks in Walls
Expanding water isn’t just a problem for pipes…water in hairline cracks in brickwork can freeze in winter. The associated expansion exacerbates the cracking and can lead to crumbling of the bricks. In severe cases this can lead to loss of bricks and unstable walls. Talk to our waterproofing experts if you have concerns.
Frozen Gutters
Debris left in gutters blocks water so it doesn’t move freely and instead leaks over the side. What’s more, any water blocked in the gutter and not drained can freeze and take longer to thaw and drain. The weight of ice also causes gutters to pull away from the house. Water in gutters can lead to water damage, rotting wood, and roof damage. Leaking gutters can also contribute to penetration damp, as water spills out down exterior walls. Get ahead of these problems now for peace of mind all winter long.
Freezing pipes
The water in pipes can freeze if it gets too cold. When this happens, the water expands and can cause the pipes to burst. At best, this will cause leaks; at worst it could flood your house. Rooms can be out of commission for weeks while remedial works are carried out. Even worse, your water and heating might have to be turned off until a plumber can repair the system – not ideal in the winter months! The best way to prevent this is to ensure that all your pipes are appropriately insulated.
If you have a boiler, you should keep an eye on discharge pipes too. If these freeze, the boiler won’t be able to get rid of waste water and will shut down. If this happens an engineer may have to come out and reset the system.
Draughts
Cracks in windows and walls let in draughts and let out heat, wasting energy. Having open cracks also leaves your house vulnerable to penetration damp, as water leaks through cracks in the walls causing blistering paint, rotting timber and mould growth. Take advantage of our caulking and weatherstripping discount (December 1 – January 15) to take care of these problems, once and for all.
Condensation
If your home is cold, moisture in the air can condense on surfaces like windows and walls. The excess moisture can promote the growth of mould and rot, which as well as being unpleasant to look at, can harm health by causing or exacerbating respiratory problems.
If you have any concerns about your home, give us a call today to get ready for the long cold months ahead.
If this advice comes a little late, that’s ok – experts are standing by to help you get everything back in order.
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