SERVPRO's® Top Tips to Help Avoid Winter Storm Damage!

8/7/2024 (Permalink)

This facility suffered a pipe break causing over 6 inches of water to pool in a highly used area. SERVPRO handled this storm damage in no time!

Winter storms in the northeast can cause structural and water damage in your Rosendale home or business! Check out some of these “best practices” to help keep damage at bay!

Whether winter or summer, storm systems 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 help 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 around pipes 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. Additionally, a slow trickle of water flowing through the faucet can help.
• Check pipes in garages, basements, cellars, crawl spaces and any colder areas of your home that could benefit from some inexpensive pipe insulation.
• Consider winterizing outdoor faucets, like spigots you would typically attach a hose to. Contact a plumber about winterizing steps, especially if you won’t be home for periods of time. This is crucial for 2^nd homes, vacation homes and vacant properties. Contact your homeowner’s insurance company if you’re going to be away for a while, they also don’t like surprises.
• Keep the gutters 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 regular maintenance by a professional to help reduce the risk of puffbacks and unwanted water damage.
• Make sure you have regularly scheduled heating oil deliveries, if applicable, and never turn the heat below 55 degrees.

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.  It proves helpful to have a few buckets of rock salt at the ready, especially in risky areas like exterior entrances, stairs, and puddling or run off spots in the parking lot.

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 we'll make it "Like it never even happened."