While most people think of water damage to the home occurring during heavy spring and summer rains, it’s just as common during winter. Leaking pipes, frozen pipes, condensation, and more can all lead to water damage, mold, and other expensive problems for your Raleigh home. Fortunately, you can prevent most water damage with the right precautions, and our crawl space waterproofing company is going to walk you through how to do it.
Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing
One of the biggest causes of water damage in the winter is a pipe bursting after a freeze. While Raleigh generally doesn’t get terribly cold weather in the winter, any dip to 25 degrees or below could freeze water in a pipe, causing it to expand and the pipe to burst. Exterior pipes or those in unheated areas of the home, such as attics, unfinished basements, or crawl spaces, should be insulated or wrapped in an insulating material to minimize risk. For extremely cold nights, keep cabinets open and a slow trickle of water flowing from the faucet to keep the water moving and prevent interior pipes from freezing.
Clean Your Gutters
When your gutters get clogged with leaves, sticks, and other debris, heavy rains and melting ice can’t flow easily to the downspouts. Instead, the overflow of water will pour down the side of your house or even back up under your roof which can lead to mold growth in the attic, damaged siding, and wood rot. If you don’t have time to get on the ladder and clean out gutters every few months, consider having screens installed over the them. This affordable solution allows water run off but prevent leaves from blocking the gutters.
Disconnect Outdoor Water Connections
It may seem easier to leave a hose or sprinkler system connected to an outdoor spigot all year long, instead of putting it in the garage over the winter, but leaving them connected can increase the likelihood of a burst pipe. For extra security, if you aren’t using the outdoor water spigot over the winter, shut off water to the pipe until spring and put away the garden hose.
Check for Leaks Around Your Home
Go through your home at least once a year to inspect all the faucets, visible pipes, and water supply lines for signs of leaks or wear. A worn supply line can easily be replaced and should be before the hose malfunctions. Additionally, you’ll want to check pipes under your sinks and throughout your home for drips, loosening, or any other issue that may cause water damage if left untreated.
Also, know what to look in and around your home that shows you may have a water leak, including:
- Flooded areas in your yard
- Water spots on your ceiling or walls
- Noticeable spike in your water bill
- Low water pressure
- Mold or mildew
Consider Basement or Crawl Space Encapsulation
Even if you don’t have a burst pipe or leaking water line, water can seep into an unprotected basement or crawl space. Over time, a consistently damp or flooded space can lead to wood rot in the floor joists and compromise the structure of the home, attract insects, and even cause severe mold growth. Because much of the air in your home comes up from the crawl space or basement, you want to ensure the spaces under your home are as dry and healthy as your living areas. Basement waterproofing or crawl space encapsulation can prevent dampness and moisture from seeping in, as well as prevent pipes from freezing by sealing the cracks and crevices and putting up a moisture-resisting insulating barrier.
Contact Us for Crawl Space Encapsulation in Raleigh
The tips above will help you go a long way toward preventing water damage to your home during the winter months. If you want to encapsulate your crawl space to keep the space under your home cleaner and drier all year, or if you’ve already experienced water damage and need mold remediation, reach out to us today to schedule a quote at 919-847-7072 or fill out our contact form to get started.