How to Avoid Winter Storm Damage to Your Bessemer Property

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

In the winter months, your West Pittsburg, Sandy Lake, Fredonia, and surrounding areas home and business are vulnerable to winter storms.

In the winter months, your West Pittsburg, Sandy Lake, Fredonia, and surrounding areas home and business are vulnerable to winter storms, including wind, snow, and ice storms. Snowstorms can easily cost a business millions of dollars in lost productivity and sales. The best way to prevent winter storm damage to your New Castle, West Middlesex, New Beaver property is to be prepared.

Check Your Insurance Policy

The basic “named perils” property policy covers your building and its contents from damage or loss caused by specific perils (or cause of loss) named in the policy. These perils include fire, lightning, explosion, windstorms, hail, smoke, and more. These policies do not include coverage for falling objects, weight of snow, ice, or sleet, or water damage or collapse.

The most common type of property damage caused by winter weather is roof damage or collapse, which is caused by snow, ice, sleet, or water damage from burst pipes or ice dams. Ice dams occur when water doesn’t flow properly through gutters, which allows the water to enter the building, damaging ceilings and walls. This water damage, for example, is not covered by a basic “named perils” policy. Ensure that you know the details of your insurance policy to prevent any unwelcome surprises if damage does occur.

Check Your Roof

Large, flat roofs, roofs of varying levels, those in shady areas, and those with heavy insulation have the highest risk of snow and ice build-up. Skylights, vents, and poorly insulated areas of roofs can also cause problems by allowing heat to escape, which can cause snow to melt and refreeze.

The most problems occur when snow accumulates over time. The weight of snow depends on the amount of water that it contains, not on the actual depth of the snow. In general, snow that falls at a warmer temperature will be denser. Also, snow that packs down over time becomes denser. If snow accumulation is expected, plan for safe removal.

Check Your Structure

In high-wind areas, it’s crucial to check vulnerable areas, including roofs, windows, and doors on a regular basis to ensure they are in proper working order. If these areas aren’t properly functioning, they can allow wind to enter, making the building more vulnerable to damage.

Call SERVPRO of Mercer and Lawrence Counties

Should you experience any damage to your New Wilmington, New Beaver, Ellport or surrounding areas home or business due to winter storms, call SERVPRO of Mercer and Lawrence Counties at (724) 704-8939 visit our Website! We can respond immediately with highly trained technicians who employ specialized equipment and techniques to restore your home or business to pre-storm condition. We are available 24/7, even on holidays, and we have the resources to handle any size storm or disaster.