Restoration Experts: Damage Restoration Company Explains Common Winter Water Damage Risks

Since 1995, Restoration Experts has been serving the Ronkonkoma and Long Island area of New York with water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, puff back damage restoration, and other restoration and cleaning services. The team of property damage restoration and cleaning experts cares deeply about customers. A property damage disaster is traumatic, disrupting every facet of life until the damage is repaired. At Restoration Experts, the technicians aim to restore and repair a damaged property quickly so life can return to normal.

Flood and water damage risks increase during the winter months in Ronkonkoma and the Long Island area of New York. The winter months are characterized by cold and wet weather, from snow and ice to wind and rain. When snow and ice accumulate on the rooftop and around the perimeter of a home, they put the dwelling at risk for flooding and water damage in the winter months.

The homeowner must be vigilant, especially with the fluctuations in snowfall amounts over the last several decades. The Brookhaven National Labs chronicles these fluctuations: “For decades the Island has seen fluctuations in total snowfall vary greatly from one year to the next—where several feet might drop one winter there could only be several inches the next. Since Brookhaven National Labs first started recording yearly snow accumulation in the late 1940s, the first time the Island saw fewer than 10 inches of snow was in the winter of ‘72-’73. It was more than two decades before that number dropped back into the single digits, but since 1995 there have been five winters on record under the 10” mark. ’97-’98 saw the least snow ever on the Island with a total of only 4.5 inches; two years earlier, however, Long Island had its most snow-laden winter with 90.75 inches. A single-month record was recently set in February 2013 when 35.8 inches touched the ground, beating out January 2011’s 35.7 inches by a hair.”

The homeowner or business is not helpless during the frigid, snowy months of winter. Here are some signs the homeowner can look for to recognize potential risks, some steps to follow to prevent flooding when possible, and what to do to get help if flooding and winter water damage occurs.

Risk: Frozen Pipes

During frigid weather, pipes in cold areas of a home or pipes that are exposed to especially cold weather are at risk of freezing. Frozen pipes are prone to burst. When they do, as much as seven to nine gallons of water per minute flow out of the pipe and into the home, crawl space, attic, or basement.

Tip: Insulate pipes in potential freeze areas such as the attic, crawl space, and basement. Seal cracks and crevices that allow colder air into the home. On particularly cold days and nights, allow a small amount of water to trickle from faucets. Static non-flowing water freezes much more readily than flowing water.

Risk: Ice Dams and Snow on the Roof

An ice dam may form when warm air causes snow at the top of the roof to melt and flow down the roof. It then freezes again when it reaches the outer edge of the roof. The resulting ice dam can cause issues for the roof. The frozen mass can also prevent water from flowing into the gutters, where it is eventually directed away from the house. In this instance, a home might be at risk of flooding when the ice melts and pools next to the foundation.

Tip: Keep gutters clean and free of debris. Add insulation to the attic. If a large amount of snow accumulates on the roof, enlist the services of a professional to remove it and prevent ice dams. Almost three feet of snow can fall in a single month in the Ronkonkoma and Long Island area.

Basement Flooding

Snowmelt or rainwater that pools next to the foundation of a home with a basement can flood the basement. Gutters clogged with leaves, silt, or ice fail to capture the water and direct it away from the home. Instead, the water flows over the clogged gutters and can eventually seep its way into the basement or crawl space of a home.

Tip: The slope away from the foundation of a home should be one inch per foot for the first five to ten feet, if possible. An inadequate slope puts a house at risk of a flooded basement or crawl space. The effects could be catastrophic if the basement is used as an active living space or for storage.

In case of winter water damage, do not panic. Contact Restoration Experts, a locally owned and operated property damage restoration company that serves Suffolk and Nassau Counties, including Ronkonkoma and Long Island. They offer property damage restoration services for water and flood damage, fire damage, and puff back damage. Cleaning services are also available. Connect to 24-hour live calls. A response is guaranteed in one hour.

For more information about water damage restoration near Ronkonkoma and Long Island, contact Restoration Experts at 631-588-1110.