How to Prevent 3 Common Winter Problems Around the Home

Posted on January 10th, 2017 by Devine Bros

Sub-freezing temperatures are as troublesome for our home as they are for us. Avoid disaster this winter by following these preventative tips from the home heating experts at Devine Bros…

Problem: Ice Dams

What happens: Heat rising through the attic begins to melt the snow on your roof. The snow turns into water, flows to the edge in the roof, but can’t drain due to a blockage in the gutters. The water re-freezes into ice, forming a literal dam at the edge of your roof. This leads to a backup of water, which can eventually begin to seep into your home.

How to prevent it: There are two approaches to dealing with ice dams: proactive and reactive. Reactive approaches include removing snow from your roof with a snow rake, or simply melting an ice dam using a garden hose. An example of a proactive approach is upgrading your attic’s insulation to minimize heat loss.

Problem: Burst Pipes

What happens: As temperatures begin to drop outside, uninsulated pipes in your home can freeze. When water freezes, it expands, thus creating an immense amount of pressure on the insides of your pipes. The pipe will eventually give in to this pressure by rupturing. This can lead to gallons of water pouring into your home, damaging everything it contacts.

How to prevent it: Insulate the pipes in your home, especially those that run along exterior walls, as they are most susceptible to freezing. You should also keep your home’s heat set to at least 65° at all times – even if you are away on vacation. It is a good idea to leave cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around your pipes.

Problem: Furnace Breakdowns

What happens: Your home heating system is comprised of several components which all work together to keep you warm. If just one of these components malfunctions, your entire furnace could fail to produce heat.

How to prevent it: Routine maintenance is the best way to prevent furnace breakdowns. The most important thing that homeowners can do on their own is change the air filter every month. You should also schedule one professional tune-up per year. During a tune-up, a licensed technician will clean your heating system and inspect it for signs of potential problems. This can help stop breakdowns before they start.

Devine Bros. offers home heating installations, repairs, and tune-ups to homeowners across Fairfield County, Connecticut. Our trained technicians are familiar with all makes and models of heating equipment. If you live in Norwalk, Westport, or New Canaan, give us a call at (203) 866-4421.