Winter Water Damage: Top Causes and Preventative Tips

There can be many reasons for water damage to occur during the winter months. Ranging from regular flooding to a leaky roof and burst pipes.

We at Rock Emergency have honestly seen it all, and are prepared to work through it with you and your insurance company. Below are the most common causes of winter water damage:

When your pipes burst, it's likely because they have frozen. This is all too common during winter months, especially if you live in a raised home and your pipes are underneath.

Pipes that are not properly insulated are more often to burst than pipes that are insulated. There are times when the temperatures drop so much that it almost does matter how well they are insulated. 

A sign that your pipes are frozen or starting to freeze would be little to no water pressure. When a frozen pipe bursts then thaws, a serious amount of water will end up either in or under your home. Don’t worry, we will give you tips on how to try and prevent this from happening!

Ice blocks that form along the edge of your roof are called ice dams. They can be extremely damaging if not taken care of. They occur when parts of your roof heat up above freezing, causing the snow to melt.

The melted snow makes its way down the roof where it's cooler, and it begins to refreeze. The more snow there is on the roof, the more that has the opportunity to melt causing a greater risk of ice dams.

Roof leaks are very common during the winter, especially if there are ice dams present. When the ice begins to melt, the water can get under the shingles and seep into the home that way.

If there has been previous damage to the roof, it is more likely for water to get in during the winter months. There are plenty of ways to prevent ice damming and roof leaks, don’t worry!

Melting snow can be of great concern in the Rochester area. There are years that the area sees feet of snow throughout the entire season. Other years, like recently, we see a lot of snow, then it melts, then it snows, then melts again. Areas near the lake often experience the lake effect snow, which is heavy and wet. 

Did you know that heavy snowfall in Rochester is 7+ inches of snow in a 12-hour period or 9+ in a full day? That’s a lot of snow. Imagine 10 inches of snow even within a 2 day period. That’s a lot.

Now imagine that on days 3 & 4 the temps soar into the mid 50’s. All that snow we just got is going to melt with nowhere to go causing flooding.

We also have to worry about ice melting. It seems almost every year our area gets at least one good ice storm. They occur when it isn’t quite cold enough for snow, or the temperature drops rapidly after a rainfall. 

Often, we wake up in the morning to layers of ice covering everything from trees, cars, and roads. When trees are frozen solid, the weight of the limbs could become too heavy and fall off.

This can cause serious damage to homes if the trees are large enough. Additionally, when all the ice melts, it could cause water damage.

To go right along with the snowmelt flooding, we also have to worry about coastal flooding. The lakes and rivers tend to rise normally during the winter due to the melting snow that normally occurs.

When we have a massive amount of snow melting all at once everywhere, it will often runoff into the lakes and rivers in our area. 

With water levels already higher, add in a windy snowstorm, and we now have more flooding along the coast. While we can’t always prevent this, it is good to know that it can happen.

Ever hear of an ice jam? If you live along a river or large enough creek, you probably have. For those that have not, an ice jam occurs when the surface of a river or creek freezes over, then breaks apart.

If the chunks of ice are large enough, they can block underpasses or bridges causing water levels to rise which could ultimately lead to flooding.

Hot water heaters are usually kept in a basement, or a utility closet area and are mostly unseen and unheard of. We have them for heating the hot water that we use for bathing, washing dishes, laundry and sometimes for heating.

The average life for a tank hot water heater is around 12 years. They don’t last forever, and will eventually “go”. 

When this happens, it could be gradual or sudden. If it is gradual, you may start noticing the water doesn’t get quite as hot anymore, or it makes a lot of noise like creaking, knocking, or groaning when it is in use.

When it does finally give up, you will notice there is no hot water anywhere in the home, and there may be water on the top of the tank or even worse, all over the floor.

Often forgotten in winter months, gutters can be a big cause for winter water damage. The purpose of gutters is to move water away from your home. When they are clogged or blocked, they cannot function properly.

Since the Rochester area is known for early and late snowstorms, it is important to keep your gutters clean and clear all year round. Leaves and debris can block the proper functioning of your gutters and cause a buildup of snow or ice which when it melts could cause water damage within your home.