Preventing Water Damage to Your Property During Minnesota Winter

Are you ready to put away the lawnmower and do a test start of the snowblower? Winter will be here soon, and with it comes many potential problems at your property. Fortunately, many of these problems can be prevented with a few quick tasks and tips. Here is our best advice for preventing damage to your home this winter. 

Keep Your Gutters And Downspouts, Clean

The main purpose of your gutters is to collect the water that comes off your roof and direct it away from your home. If your gutters and downspouts are clogged with leaves, twigs, or other debris, water can pool around the foundation of your house.

This can lead to serious water damage, including basement flooding, rotten siding, trim, and doors, and even structural issues. Additionally, clogged gutters can lead to the formation of ice dams in the winter. Ice dams occur when the water from melting snow on your roof collects and refreezes at the edge of your roof. This frozen blockage can cause water to back up on your roof and leak down into your home. 

In addition to keeping your gutters clear, adding attic insulation can also help to prevent ice dams. Keeping more heat inside your home will prevent snow from melting on your warmer roof and then refreezing at the colder edges. Before the first snow falls, it’s a good idea to have your gutters, downspouts, and roof inspected by a professional to make sure there are no leaks or other damage that could cause clogs or ice dams. Missing shingles and small roof leaks can also allow water into your attic, causing mold growth and other water damage. 

If you do experience an ice dam, get help quickly to clear it before your home experiences serious water damage. 

Make Sure Your Sump Pump Is Ready

Sump pumps are common appliances in Twin Cities basements. They pump away extra water to make sure that your basement stays dry. They are critical during big summer storms, but you should also be sure that your sump pump is ready to handle melted snow or ice during wintertime. Here are three critical tips:

• Keeping your sump pump insulated and your basement heated to at least 55 degrees will prevent it from freezing. 
• Consider a battery backup for your sump pump if your area is prone to power outages, particularly during storms.  
• Similar to our gutter and downspout advice above, be sure that the drain lines coming out of your sump pump don’t get clogged or frozen. 

Prevent Frozen or Burst Pipes 

Almost every Minnesota resident knows that you need to protect the interior and exterior pipes at your home from freezing temperatures. Keeping even vacant homes heated to at least 55 degrees, opening under-sink cabinets on exterior walls, and leaving a trickle of water running are all common ways to prevent this messy and expensive problem from happening. Outside your home, make sure you disconnect and drain all garden hoses and outdoor irrigation systems, and turn off the water to any outdoor spigots.

If you will be away from your home for a long time in winter, installing water alarms or other smart leak and temperature monitoring systems is recommended, along with a good old-fashioned house sitter to make regular visits. 

Get Help For Your Heating System

Your heating system will be working hard during the long Minnesota winter, so it’s essential to ensure it’s in good condition. Fall is a great time to have your furnace serviced by a professional to ensure it’s running efficiently. 

Replacing your air filters and having your air ducts cleaned will help your system run more efficiently and protect it from damage. A reliable heating system will not only keep you comfortable but also reduce the risk of frozen pipes and other damage that cold temperatures inside your property can cause. 

Know Who To Call When You Need Help

Following the tips listed above will prevent many problems before they start, but unfortunately, many Twin Cities home and business owners will still be faced with problems this winter. When you are dealing with an urgent crisis, you should not be scrambling to find someone to help. Being prepared for emergencies and having a plan for how to deal with heating system issues and water damage during the winter is essential. 

At Green Clean, we are ready to help stop and restore water damage at your St. Paul home or business. We have been helping our neighbors here in the Twin Cities for over 20 years with expert water, fire, and even mold services. We also provide specialized cleaning services including thorough air duct cleaning. Don’t struggle through these issues alone this winter – call Green Clean today to get the help you need.