Are There Steps I Can Take to Prevent Water Damage Caused by an Ice Dam in Bristol?

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Severe winter weather can cause ice damming, frozen pipes and many other disasters for your home. SERVPRO can Help!

SERVPRO Offers Emergency Services Including Water Removal in Bristol

During the early fall season, the most common cause of water damage tends to be pipes freezing and breaking. It often occurs during the first day where the temperature drops below freezing and people have not yet turned on their heaters or taken the necessary winterization steps. Preventing frozen pipes can be accomplished by covering them with insulation and ensuring your home stays above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frozen pipes and ice damming in Bristol are the most common sources of property damage during the fall and winter months. Pipe freezes happen more often during the first couple of months of the cold seasons, but an ice dam can form on your roof anytime after a snowstorm strikes. 

In some cases, you can prevent ice dams from occurring by placing heated cables in zigzag patterns on the edge of your roof. But, if your house is prone to getting ice dams, more permanent fixes could be necessary. Ventilating your eaves and ridges can help prevent uneven temperatures on your roof by circulating cold air underneath it. 

Another method to prevent ice dams is to make sure all of the ducts connected to your kitchen, bathroom, and dryer vents are exhausted to the outside and that they do not run through your attic. Sealing and insulating your ducts can also prevent heat from escaping into your attic and causing your roof to heat unevenly. You can seal around any penetrations into your building's exterior with caulk, including electrical cables and vent pipes.

However, if, despite your prevention efforts, you still get a water leak caused by frozen pipes or an ice dam, our SERVPRO technicians can assist you in the following ways:

• Emergency Service After you Get Water Damage
• Making Repairs Related to Water Damage
• Water Extraction
• Water Damage Debris Removal
• Attic Mold Inspections

If a disaster ever happens to ruin your holiday season, call SERVPRO of Bristol at (860) 582-3330.