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How to Safely Remove Snow from Around the House to Avoid Water Damage

Published by 911 Restoration Dallas on March 30, 2022 in category: Water Damage Restoration

>Marijuana cleanup from sanitation services If you’re a homeowner in a place that sees plenty of snow, you must always be on the lookout for ways to remove snow from around your house safely. Not only can a bunch of snow accumulated around the house cause leaving and coming back to be difficult and result in problems in getting the car out of the garage, but it can also cause water damage to your house.

As the snow and ice on the roof, on window sills, and around the foundation of the house melts and refreezes, it can cause water damage to the woodwork and the walls, it can creep into cracks in the foundation and cause structural damage, and it can also let moisture enter the house which could result in mold and mildew.

It is essential to remove snow from around your house whenever you see it begin to pile up and accumulate. However, you should do it safely to avoid back pain, tripping and falling, or even the risk of a heart attack.

Here are some of the ways in which you can safely remove snow from around the house and prevent the occurrence of water damage:

Remove Snow from the Roof 

The first place around the house that you need to remove snow from is the roof. If your roof is flat, there will probably be more snow buildup instead of a steeper roof from which snow can naturally fall off. 

You can use a long snow rake to remove the snow safely from the ground to reduce the chances of falling. Removing snow from the roof will reduce the amount of runoff and prevent water from seeping into the attic. Additionally, you can also have roof heating strips installed so that the ice melts off on its own. 

Remove Snow from Around the Foundation of the House

The next place you should be worried about is the house’s foundation. It would help if you used a shovel or snow rake to remove the snow from around the house’s foundation to prevent any snow or water from entering the foundation. 

While water in the basement isn’t too much of a problem and can be cleaned up easily, it might run into cracks in the foundation and expand when it refreezes, resulting in structural damage. A snow blower is a good alternative if you get fatigued or out of breath while shoveling and raking. 

Clear Snow from the Driveway and Yard

The driveway, front and back yard are places where snow will accumulate. You may think that you can let the snow stay there and it will melt off down the street, but this isn’t always the case. If the yard and driveway slope towards the house, the runoff can pool around the house and cause water damage to the foundation. Additionally, a frozen yard will cause water from melting snow and ice to pool and not allow it to seep into the ground. 

Seal any Gaps or Cracks on the Exterior of the House

A preventative measure that you can take to prevent water damage from snow is to seal any gaps or cracks on the house’s exterior. This includes any gaps in windowsills or around door frames, cracks in drywall, or any cracks and spaces in the roof and the house’s foundation. You can seal the gaps using caulking, masonry caulk, or hydraulic cement. 

Clear Out the Gutters and Downspouts 

One last thing to do is clear out the gutters and downspouts around the roof. If your gutters are blocked by leaves, twigs, and other debris, the snow and ice will not be able to runoff from the roof. Ideally, you should clean out the gutters in the fall before the snowy season starts. Having clear gutters also prevents the runoff from refreezing in the pipes. 

As for the downpours, you should position them to drain the melted snow and ice a few feet away from the house’s foundation. This way, even if the water is pooling for some time, it won’t seep into the foundation and cause any damage. 

911 Restoration of Dallas – Water Damage Restoration in Dallas

Cleaning up snow from around your house can be easy to do by yourself, but in some situations, there may be too much snow to handle safely or even dangerous ice that you can’t manage to remove on your own. In such cases, it would be in your best interest to call in a professional damage restoration team. 

911 Restoration is a damage restoration company that aims to clean up your property, restore any damage, and give you a Fresh Start. Our water damage restoration team is trained to handle any situation, be it tornado damage, mold removal, sewage backup, cleanup, or any other kind of water-related damage restoration. 

You can visit our website for more information on the services we provide, or call us at (972) 217-8245 with any questions or concerns you might have. We are available 24/7 and 365 days a year and guarantee an arrival time of 45 minutes or less.

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