Cold Weather Nightmares

10/5/2017 (Permalink)

Puffbacks, Frozen Pipes, and Ice Dams

What they are and why you should care

It may feel too early for cold weather tips just yet, but as fall progresses and winter comes closer, there are some things you should know.

Cold weather can lead to many issues and accidents within or outside of your home. Simply turning the heat on for the first time in awhile or neglecting to clean out your gutters can become a major problem if you are not aware of potential risks associated with your property in cold weather.

Puffbacks

A puffback occurs when your furnace/heating unit malfunctions and the oil burner backfires. A sort of explosion occurs in which grime and soot are blown into your home or business. This can be a large or small catastrophe, as the soot can spread to cover all of your furniture and belongings. 

Frozen pipes

If pipes carrying water become too cold, the liquid inside of them can freeze and create a blockage. This causes pressure to build up behind the blockage due to the backflow of water, and this can result in the bursting of the pipe at the site of the blockage. This can be dangerous and cause significant property damage.

Ice dams

Heated air can melt snow that has piled on rooftops, causing it to run down into the gutter. The water can easily become trapped behind ice that blocks the water from running out of the gutter as it should. If the trapped water cannot escape through the gutter system, it may flow into the home or underneath roof shingles.