When it comes to the cold winter months, many of us picture the beautiful white snow falling down. The reality is that ice tends to be the end result of that snow after it goes through the freeze and thaw process multiple times. Ice can be a very dangerous substance that can harm your home in many ways.
Ice Dams
One of the most well-known ways that ice can damage your roof is through ice dams. These happen when the snow starts to melt from your roof in an uneven pattern. Some of the melted snow finds itself backed up in your gutters as it refreezes. This creates solid ice in the gutters. The existing water trying to get off of the roof can't exit due to the blockage in the gutter. This leaves unwanted pools of water all over your roof, which can result in damaged shingles, gutters, and roofing underlayment.
Damaged Gutters from Icicles
Icicles tend to be a beautiful creation of nature. However, when they hang off of your gutters, they can create a real problem for your overall roofing system. If you've ever picked up an icicle, you know they can be super heavy. Imagine the weight of all the icicles hanging from your gutters. It soon becomes clear just how damaging those icicles can be to your gutters.
Ice Expands Existing Foundation Gaps
Ice is a pesky problem that can exponentially increase existing cracking in your home's foundation. It is not uncommon to see a slight crack or two in a foundation over time. These tiny cracks aren't usually an issue as long as they're tended to in a timely manner. However, when water gets into those cracks and freezes in the cold temperature, it creates a whole other store. The ice will actually push out on the material and make the crack larger than it initially was.
Freezing Pipes
Every homeowner should be prepared to deal with freezing pipes. If you plan on leaving your home in the winter months, it can be a common thought to turn the temperature down. However, this can quickly turn into a disaster. If the piping that runs throughout your home is not kept above freezing, the water in the pipes can start to turn to ice. When this happens, the ice expands and causes the pipes to burst open.
Winter ice can wreak havoc on your home if you're not careful. It's important that you do what you can to mitigate the problems above. It's always best to try and prevent any winter problems instead of just responding to them once they happen.
