Winter weather is unpredictable, but you can count on SERVPRO to have reliable solutions to all your big and small winter property damage disasters.

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

Freezing temperatures can be incredibly dangerous to your home or business, frozen water, snow, and ice can cause significant property damage.

SERVPRO of Southwest Brooklyn property restoration specialists are available to clean up and reverse damages caused by winter. Frozen pipes, flooding and roof leaks from ice and snow are all concerns for Brooklyn and Queens property owners and tenants, our certified and reliable team is ready to restore your home or business whenever winter property damage strikes. 

Winter weather and freezing temperatures can be incredibly dangerous to your home or business, as frozen water, snow, and ice can all lead to significant property damage disasters. On average each year a quarter of a million homeowners will experience the destructive power of frozen water problems including, frozen pipe bursts, ice dams and other leaking water damage occurrences. A frozen pipe alone can result in gallons of water spilling over your floors, leaking, or pouring through ceilings and walls, and ruining furniture and other valuable possessions. SERVPRO professionals specialize in the cleanup and restoration of Brooklyn and Queens residential or commercial property after a frozen water property damage emergency. Our SERVPRO of Southwest Brooklyn staff is highly trained and experienced in the cleanup and restoration of your frozen water property damage from frigid Northeast temperatures. Our team can respond quickly and help you assess your damage and find a restoration solution that you can trust.

Common causes of winter property damage in Brooklyn and Queens

ICE DAMS

Ice dams occur after a snowfall and several days of freezing temperatures, common weather conditions in the Northeast during winter. Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and warms the underside of the roof causing snow and ice to melt. The melted water refreezes on the cold overhang and can form icicles and an ice dam on the roof and gutters. This process can cause damage to the roof which can cause water to leak into the home causing water damage to the ceiling, walls, insulation, and other areas.

LEAKING BASEMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS

Water damage and flooding to lower-level apartments is a common occurrence for many properties in Brooklyn and Queens. The impact of heavy snow, ice and rain on saturated soil often leads to water leaks, flooding and other types of basement and foundation water damage. Water damage can lead to significant structural damage, destroy furnishings and other belongings, and commonly lead to elevated mold and humidity issues.

FROZEN WATER PIPES

When Northeast temperatures drop to at or below freezing, the water flowing in your plumbing has the potential to freeze. Water expands when it freezes, the expansion of the frozen water can cause a rupture, causing catastrophic flood damage. It is important to note that the break often occurs between the frozen point and the faucet, as the ice blocks the pipe, and the water pressure increases leading to stress on the pipe. Pipes that run through the exterior walls are particularly at risk, but those that run through low- or uninsulated attics and crawl spaces can also freeze.

Although, these frozen water damage situations are very common, sometimes the damage could have largely been prevented by taking a few preventative steps ahead of time. These are a few tips you can take to try and avoid turning the coming frigid days and nights into inconvenient and expensive property disasters.

HELP PREVENT FROZEN WATER ISSUES IN YOUR HOME

• Exposed pipes are the most susceptible to freezing, so insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic.
• Seal air leaks in your attic, basement, and exterior walls, look for air leaks around electrical wiring, vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out.
• To avoid ice dams, add roof and soffit vents to regulate the air temperature close to the underside of the roof.
• Sump pumps and sub-floor drainage systems are typically used to avoid the continued damage associated with basements and other foundation issues.

Property water damage is common, our team has decades of local property restoration experience.

New York weather can be unpredictable even when winter temperatures are not extremely cold; property water damages happen to home and business owners often. When water begins spreading across floors or filling basements, it is usually from a failed water heater shut-off valve or a split line on a washing machine. Many factors contribute to the length and cost of your property damage cleanup and restoration project, including the amount and type of water involved, length of time before service and the total area impacted. Our qualified and experienced staff can help answer your disaster restoration questions and provide a step-by-step plan for a full recovery of your flooded commercial or residential property. Our crews explain the process of water extraction, drying and restoration. Our Brooklyn SERVPRO team has a unique rebuild option with our dedicated construction crew, to seamlessly move from restoration to reconstruction, helping you recover more quickly. Our specialized equipment and highly trained staff have the scope of services to handle your property restoration needs from start to finish. We understand you may not have all the answers, calling our team connects you to professionals that can provide the answers to your restoration concerns and tailor a solution to repair your home or business, “Like it never even happened.”