Winter is Coming

10/1/2019 (Permalink)

Here in Indiana, we're no strangers to the brutal winter weather conditions.  It's important to stay ahead of the game, and prepare your home to withstand these conditions.  At SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles, we see a vast amount of claims during these winter months due to roof leaks caused by ice and snow,  water leaks from frozen pipes and many other winter storm related causes.   We want you to be aware, even though we are leaders in the water mitigation industry, we would rather prevent the damage than clean it up.

  Some of the most common causes of loss for our Southern Indiana customers are roof leaks. Do a visual inspection of your roof to look for maintenance issues or things that could make it more susceptible to hail or wind or other damage—like missing or damaged shingles or tiles on sloped roofs. Or if it’s a flat roof, look for surface bubbles in the membrane material or missing gravel.  Take a walk around the home and look for overhanging trees and branches. Trim trees back and remove dead branches—things that have the potential to fall when you get high winds or heavy snowfall to keep from damaging your roof.  Check downspouts and gutters to make sure that after the leaves fall the gutters get cleaned out—anything with the potential to freeze and exacerbate the problem with ice damage. Keep the drainage of the water off the roof and not clogged in the gutters.

  Another common cause of water loss are frozen pipe leaks.   No one wants a frozen pipe, so keep an eye on yours. Drain the outside water faucets and shut them off before the first freeze. On very cold nights, open cabinets beneath the sink to let warm air in and, if you are especially worried about freezing pipes, let a slow drip of water run through them. Resist the urge to turn down the thermostat to save money – you want to keep the pipes warm. Extreme weather is not a time to start trying to save on your energy bill, crank your heat up during those weeks, a water damage can be incredibly more costly than a few weeks of high energy usage.

  Another thing to keep in mind is chimney maintenance.  Make sure your chimney is ready to go before the cold weather hits by having it inspected for cracks and other dangers by a certified professional. If you had a chimney fire and didn’t know it, the professional will find evidence and recommend fixing it before use this winter. A good cleaning – and at least one during the heating season – can help reduce the chance of a chimney fire. Remember, chimney fires can spread damaging heat to the walls, leading to total losses.  

  SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles hopes you don't need us this winter season, but accidents happen, and when they do we're "Here to Help"  24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Contact Us Online or call (812)574-5744.