Winter Water Damage in Austin TX
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LOCATION
ADDRESS:
3922-B Woodbury
Austin, TX 78704
512-568-3570
(Tell)
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Winter water damage in Austin
In November, forecasters were predicting a wild and
wooly ride when it came to this year's winter weather,
but so far, winter 2012 has arrived with a resounding
thud, with no major snowfall to be reported, and certainly
nothing paralyzing or even mildly annoying to shake
communities up and disrupt life as we know it. So is
this the case in Austin TX for the rest of the winter
months to come?
The National Weather Service is still clinging to their
convictions that we will see some severe winter conditions
before the country starts warming up again (even in
Austin). The latest 3 month forecasts have serious conditions
in store, mostly for the northern tier of US states.
"The general pattern will continue to be dominated
by the current La Nina event, which favors below average
temperatures across much of the northern and western
US, and above average temps across most of the South,
says WSI Chief Meteorologist Dr. Todd Crawford.
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Obviously for the South, this is good
news, but for our neighbors to the north, not so much,
with computer generated results showing bitter cold
predicted across much of the northern Midwest.
All to say, it remains highly recommended for property
owners to properly secure their homes or businesses
against the elements. Winter storms can cause ice
to build up on trees and utility lines, leading to
power outages. Draw up a plan so you and your family
will be ready in case of a blizzard blackout.
It's a Law of Physics: Water is always
looking for a way into your house. A quarter of your
house exterior (roof, flashing, gutters, downspouts,
and windows) is dedicated to fighting this inevitability.
Austin water damage is a common byproduct of winter
weather events, occurring as a result of any number
of factors. Melting snow runoff, ice dams, water pooling
up on your roof or in clogged up gutters, leaky roofs
allowing access by water (as a result of the aforementioned
problems). Fire may also be a higher risk, what with
the increased use of gas powered space heaters.
Snow accumulation on and around your
home is the number one problem as it relates to water
damage, with snow usually collecting on the leeward
(downwind) side of your roof. Be aware of these situations
in the event that your roof suffers wear or outright
damage as the result of too much snow. Snow will also
accumulate on basement stairwells, window seals, and
walls. Melting snow leads to water damage, and basements
are always target zero for any excess water.
Your attic should be well ventilated
in order to keep temps as close as possible to what
you find outdoors. This cuts down on the risk of ice
dams forming. A warm attic helps melt the snow, which
runs down and freezes at the roof's edge where it
is cooler. As a result, ice builds up and prevents
water from draining, instead sending it back under
the roof covering and down into the attic and walls
of your home. Not good. Austin water damage from ice
dams is completely avoidable.
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Ice dams cause millions of dollars of damage every
year. Ice dams usually develop along roof eaves, above
the plate line of exterior walls. Contrary to popular
belief, gutters do not cause ice dams. However, gutters
do help concentrate ice and water at a very vulnerable
roof-eaves area. Heat lost from homes at this point
aggravates snow melting and ice-dam development. Water
from ice dams infiltrates wall cavities. It dampens
building materials and raises the relative humidity
within wall frames.
Melting snow can overwhelm sump pumps and lead to basement
water problems. To protect your home, PuroClean of Austin
TX recommends clearing snow from around the foundation
of your house. If you have one of those outdoor basement
stairwells with a drain at the bottom, clear snow away
from the drain so that melting snow won't overwhelm
your sump pump.
In the event of water damage as a result of winter
weather, don't wait to call for professional help. Damage
caused by water will not get better on its own. Quite
the opposite; it will only get worse.
Your local Clean Trust certified water restoration
professionals are available 24/7, year round, ready
to assess your water damage problems and begin the restoration
process, designed to return your home to its pre-loss
condition. All work is guaranteed, and best of all,
they will work with your insurance provider, providing
direct billing services to spare you the additional
headaches. Enjoy the snow, but don't let it become a
liability. Prepare your home for winter today!
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