What Type of Damage Can Cold Weather Storms Cause

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Cold-weather storms can cause just as much damage to your building as thunderstorms or tornadoes. While a blizzard may not cause rain flooding, it can introduce other issues for your property:

• Burst pipe
• Collapsed roof
• Ice buildup

Your storm damage restoration professional may be able to go over other types of damage common in the winter months.

Plumbing Issues

When the temperatures drop below freezing, your pipes may be at risk for freezing up. This is especially true for any plumbing in exterior walls. If you don't heat your entire building, you may have an even higher risk of getting a frozen pipe somewhere on your property. When the liquid within the piping freezes, it expands. This can cause cracks to form, which can lead to leaks and floods.

Roofing Problems

Winter storms are often associated with high winds that can cause roof damage. If parts of your roofing system are torn off, it can expose the plumbing in your attic to the cold weather. This can lead to a burst pipe, but a damaged roof can invite other moisture into your space as well. For example, the weight of the snow on your roof can cause a collapse, which sends lots of snow into your building.

Ice buildup is another common roofing problem caused by winter storms. The snow accumulates on your roof. As the weather warms up, the snow at the peaks starts to melt first. Once the melt reaches the edges of the roof, it may start to freeze again. This cycle causes the formation of ice dams, which can lead to standing water in your commercial building.

Winter storms can be unkind to your commercial building. Knowing that you may have to deal with a burst pipe or another source of flooding during the winter can help you prepare for the worst eventuality.