Ice vs. Snow, Which Hurts Your Home More?

Posted on March 10th, 2021 by Devine Bros

When it comes to the longevity of your home, weather conditions will always have a negative impact. Damage is possible on any part of your house after snow storms or freezing conditions. But the big question is: which hurts your home the most, ice or snow? We’re here to break down some of the most significant differences between the two and how each affects your home differently.

Ice Damage

Ice can cause several different issues for your home, all of each with other solutions. 

• Ice dams: Ice dams can occur when there is some water pooling on your roof or gutters, which then inevitably freezes. They can break your gutters, tear your shingles, or eventually melt and leak into your house. 

How to fix: Ice dams occur when the ventilation to your home isn’t even, causing certain spots of your roof to be warmer than other parts. When the ice here melts, it slips into other cooler areas and freezes back over again. It’s a vicious cycle that can be prevented by fixing your ventilation system to keep even temperatures inside. 

• Frozen walkways: While not directly a part of your house, your walkways and driveways are often used by you and your family members. So, when these spots freeze over, it’s creating dangerous conditions. 

How to fix: Make sure to invest in melting salts, especially during winter. It’s an item that’s important to have all season long since even if snowy days are behind us, temperatures can still drop suddenly. 

Snow Damage

Hefty amounts of snowfall can cause plenty of issues for your home. 

• Weight on the roof: depending on how many inches of snow your area gets, snow can create stress for your roof. This could put you at risk of a roof collapse.

How to fix: Always get a roof maintenance check before winter comes or before a snowstorm. This way, a professional can ensure your roof is ready to take on this weather. 

• Melting snow causing leaks and water damage: It’s more often than not that we see homes suffering from water damage due to melting snow. 

How to prevent: Be sure to seal vulnerable areas and cracks around your home. This way, no water will be able to seep out of these spots and into your foundation. 

• HVAC Issues: Whether snow causes the power to shut off or messes with individual systems in your home, being without heat is a nightmare. 

How to fix: Make sure you always get a heating system maintenance check during this time of the year, especially since the weather will be a little bit more chilly moving on. 

Long story short, they both can cause long-term issues! One is not inherently worse than the other since they both hurt your home in ways the other doesn’t.

Helping Norwalk homeowners improve their lives is something Devine Brothers has been providing to their customers for over 100 years! If you’re interested in learning more about our service or need supplies, make sure to get in contact with us today! For more tips & tricks, make sure to like us on Facebook!