Winter storms can cause structural and water damage in your Ulster County home or business! Here's some “best practices” to keep damage at bay.

1/21/2020 (Permalink)

Prepare your home or business for winter storms to help keep damages to a minimum.

Whether winter or summer, storms in the Hudson Valley can be completely unpredictable! Some of them can lead to water damage, roof damage, broken pipes & ice damming. SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz wants to make sure you are prepared for storms and know what to do in case you do have damage! 

Tips for Preparing your Home for Winter Weather:

• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes. Rooms like basements and any other weather-susceptible rooms are a must for this step.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes for faucets run through unheated or uninsulated areas of the home.
• Consider shutting off or winterizing outdoor faucets. Find the shutoff valve in the basement or crawl space and turn it to "off". The open the outdoor faucet to help ensure it drains completely and the inner valve is shutoff. Contact a plumber about winterizing steps, especially if you won’t be home for periods of time.
• Keep your gutters are clean, free of debris and secure. Leaves and debris accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters, which could lead to roof problems and water damage. It’s smart to have them cleaned at least annually.
• Furnaces and hot water heaters need proper and regular maintenance to help reduce the risk of puffbacks and unwanted water damage.

Preparing your Business for Winter Weather:

• Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and/or snow, can cause branches to fall which would cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.
• Inspect the property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential. Keep an eye out for broken concrete or raised areas that could be hazardous, collect ice or prevent proper drainage.
• Inspect all handrails, stairwells and entryways to locate and fix potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present.  

Ask SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz about creating an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for your business for any future or potential emergencies. This FREE, comprehensive tool is vital and packed with all the important info you and your staff could need in the event of an emergency or disaster, all right at your fingertips! 

If your Ulster County home or business experiences water damage, broken pipes or ice damming, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz at 845-255-4334. We’re here to help 24/7 for all emergencies and will make it "Like it never even happened."