In many parts of the country, the winter months can be pretty severe. Heating bills go up, you have to bundle up to go outside, and there are new maintenance issues that can pop up that are unique to this season. One of the biggest obstacles that you have to contend with is a winter storm.
Winter storms can be very dangerous for multiple reasons. They can dump multiple feet of snow and ice on your property, making it hard to leave the house and shop for essentials. Commercial property owners have to contend with problems like their tenants being able to conduct operations after a bad winter storm. Extreme cold is not only dangerous to people but buildings as well.
Types of Winter Storm Damage
When your home or commercial property has to endure that cold weather for months at a time, there is always the risk of damage. Here are a few examples of the most common types of damage that your property could experience as a result of a winter storm.
Burst Pipes
Cold weather can cause frozen pipes. When pipes freeze, the water inside expands and puts outward pressure on the pipe, causing it to burst. Burst pipes can then cause water damage inside your home, which can be a significant hassle. Keeping faucets slightly open to create a constant trickle or making sure your home stays warm are the best ways to defend against pipes freezing and breaking.
Ice Dams
Winter storms can leave large collections of ice up on your roof, so much so that drainage may be affected. If the ice dams are large enough, they could put extra stress on your roof or cause roof leaks.
Roof Collapse
If you fail to remove snow from the roof after a severe winter storm that included heavy snowfall, your roof could be in danger of collapsing. The heavy snow and ice can weigh down on the structure and cause significant roof damage.
Blocked Drainage or Exhaust Vents
A major storm can cause a buildup of snow that clogs drainage areas or blocks exhaust vents, from the dryer for example. This can create both flood risk and a fire hazard. Make sure that you clear these areas of snow after a winter storm to prevent the need for water damage or fire damage restoration.
Winter Storm Damage Restoration
If a winter storm resulted in severe damage to your property, then you need to know how to clean it up and restore the structural materials. Here are a few tips that you need to know.
Use Salt to Melt Ice
Ice can form in many places after a major winter weather event. It could be on driveways, rooftops, drainage pipes, or exhaust vents. Having a supply of road salt that you can use to melt the ice in these areas can reduce the chance of flooding or blocked vents that may cause a fire.
Water Extraction
If rain or snowmelt has gotten into your property after the storm, it can cause great damage to your belongings and building materials. To protect your home or business from more damage, extracting the water as quickly as possible is necessary. Use shop vacuums, manual pumps, or towels to remove the standing water.
Drying
With the excess water removed from the affected area, it is time to dry out the wet materials that are left behind. Since opening windows is probably not an option due to the cold, you will need to create your own air circulation to evaporate the moisture out of porous materials. Large fans or air movers can do this job well, and then you can use a dehumidifier to pull the water vapor out of the air. The key is to take immediate action so that you can save the affected area from further damage.
Cleaning
Water damage cleanup sometimes requires sanitation methods depending on the extent of the damage and what type of water caused it. If there are potential contaminants in the water, you will need to have surfaces scrubbed with a detergent or bleach solution to make the room safe again. There may also be debris on the property that was caused by high winds, so that will need to be removed as well.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You may not be equipped to handle the necessary repairs yourself, but if you have the right type of insurance policy, your carrier may be able to cover some of the costs of restoration services. When disaster strikes, call your insurance company to find out what types of damage are covered.
Professional Winter Storm Damage Restoration
When you experience a bad winter storm that leaves your property damaged beyond your capabilities, you need the help of a Portland storm damage restoration company. How can this type of service help?
Quick Response
Emergency services can evaluate the damage and come up with a repair plan right away. This increases the chance of your property being restored to its pre-loss condition. Plus, if your insurance covers the costs, it makes far more sense to trust the experts at a restoration company than to attempt the repairs yourself.
Deal with Many Forms of Property Damage
Whether the winter storm caused water damage, fire damage, or another type of storm damage & restoration services have the experience to help your home or business recover from the disaster. These specialists have seen it all, and with a little bit of research to find the right business, you can be sure that the restoration process will be efficient and complete.
Whether you are dealing with frozen pipes that leaked into your home, blocked vents that caused a need for fire damage restoration, or a collapsed roof after a massive snowfall, contact the experts to save your property.
