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It’s that time of year again! As snow freezes and thaws, you may experience ice dams building up in your gutters or on low-sloping roof areas. Unfortunately, this means that a blockage has been created and the water from the melting snow on your roof cannot flow from the gutters to the downspouts. This can potentially cause the water to back up under your shingles.
Oftentimes if the melting snow, water and ice cannot move through your gutters unobstructed, it finds a way into your home, causing damage to your walls, ceilings or insulation. Typically there is minimal, if any, damage to the shingles on your roof. However, it may be necessary to pay a professional to remove snow or ice in the affected area to prevent any further damage. As your policy requires you to mitigate damages, a reasonable cost to do so may be covered under your applicable building policy. In the event of a covered loss, be sure to work with your contractor and claim adjuster to determine a reasonable cost for this service, and always obtain an invoice to present for reimbursement (subject to your policy limits and deductible). You cannot control the weather, but you can take steps to identify ice dams and prevent them from causing damage to your home:
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Winter has officially arrived, which has been blatantly apparent in our recent freezing temperatures (brrrr)! Check out these tips for added protection.
Freezing temperatures • Have all furnaces serviced and chimneys inspected and cleaned. • Check your home’s perimeter and seal any air leaks with caulk and weather-stripping. Add additional insulation in the attic—most homes need at least 12-15 inches. Make sure insulation does not come in contact with recessed lighting that is not approved for insulation contact. • Insulate pipes that go through exterior walls or colder areas such as garage ceilings or unheated attics. • Turn water off to exterior hose bibs, and detach garden hoses and empty the hose bibs. • Locate the water main shutoff valve and keep the access path clear in case a frozen pipe leak or other water issue needs to be stopped. • If you will be away from home, make sure heating is set no lower than 60 degrees so that even cold spots do not become too cold. Open sink cabinet doors to allow heat in, and let faucets drip slightly to prevent frozen pipes. • Consider installing an automatic water shutoff valve to prevent extensive water damages. Snowfall • In high snowfall areas, make sure no exhaust vents become buried by snow. • Install adequate attic insulation. This helps keep your roof cold, which prevents ice damming as a result of snow continuously melting on the roof. When replacing a roof, consider an ice shield membrane underlayment. • Identify a local roofer that clears snow from roofs and removes ice dams to prevent roof collapse or interior water damage. Not all roofers clear roof snow or ice dams. Winter Storms • Service back-up generators and have adequate fuel supplies on hand. Do not store fuel inside. Even if the generator is portable, it should never run indoors. • Have emergency supplies on hand, such as flashlights, batteries and converters to use in the car to charge devices. • If a prolonged power outage means having to relocate, consider shutting off the water to the house and draining the water lines, and follow the steps listed above for being away from your home. For more information, please contact us or visit www.aig.com/pcg. |
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