Snow Damage: How to Prevent It | Lareau - Insurance Brokers

Snow Damage: How to Prevent It

Snow Damage: How to Prevent It 2

We all agree that winter often comes with its share of inconveniences. Fortunately, most home claims that occur due to winter are preventable. It is therefore important to pay attention to certain details and take small, simple steps to prevent these problems. Here are some practical tips and tricks that will help you get through winter without too much damage.

ICICLES AROUND THE EDGE OF THE ROOF

Like many of us, do you have large icicles forming around your roof? If so, it is probably because your building is losing heat from the roof. Generally, this occurs when there is poor insulation or simply because air is not circulating well in your attic. The ice becomes a barrier, preventing water from flowing when the snow starts to melt. Water may then enter through the walls and ceilings of your home.

What to do

During the fall inspection of your home, think about inspecting your attic and ensure that you properly seal openings that would allow warm air from your home to enter the attic. It is also important to ensure that the attic remains cool to reduce melting of snow on your roof.

We also recommend that you remove the icicles as quickly as possible. A snow removal expert will be able to help you remove them safely. When they fall, the icicles can damage your vehicle or injure a passerby. You do not want to be responsible for such an accident that could have easily been prevented.

A SNOW-FILLED POOL

While an above-ground pool is able to withstand the lateral pressure caused by water in the summer, it is not designed to withstand vertical pressure. When a large quantity of snow accumulates on the edges of the pool, vertical pressure caused by the accumulation can damage your pool and its liner.

What to do

To prevent this type of issue, it is important to properly clear off the edges and skimmer of your pool using a plastic shovel. These rules also apply to spas, for which it is also very important to remove snow from their covers.

SNOW ACCUMULATION ON THE ROOF

A large accumulation of snow on your roof can significantly weigh on the structure of your home. There are many signs of tension that can help you detect if there truly is a risk:

  • New water infiltration occurs and seems to come from the roof or attic;
  • Doors inside your home become difficult to open and unexpectedly get stuck and scrape; and
  • Cracks develop on dividing walls.

In addition, if you notice water rings, blistering, or drops on the ceiling or walls of the highest floor of your home, these are probably warning signs of water infiltration.

What to do

If you notice one or more of the above signs, ask a building expert for advice as soon as possible.

However, before any of this occurs, you can prevent it by making sure not to accumulate more than 60 cm (24 in.) of snow or ice on your roof.

Be careful! The removal of snow and ice from your roof requires extreme care, since there are risks of falling and multiple electrical installations nearby. That is why we recommend that you call in an expert when you want to remove the snow that has accumulated on your roof. In addition, don’t forget to ask the expert to remove the snow on your above-ground deck, if you have one, because snow accumulation there can also result in significant weight on the structure of your home.  

While it is an integral part of our beautiful winter scenery, snow can cause a great deal of damage. It is therefore important to properly remove snow and ice from your stairway, in front of your doors, and on your balcony. That way, you can prevent unfortunate accidents!

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