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When snow falls it creates something far worse than a winter wonderland for many people. Snow disrupts work, traffic and travel and causes a lot of damage to your home, especially when it starts to melt. As beautiful as it may look, if you have nowhere to go, it can cause untold damage to your home. Your home insurance policy should protect your buildings and contents against winter weather damage, so that you’re safe from the damage that can be potentially caused by snow.
According to the Met Office, on average, the UK has seen 23.7 days of snow fall or sleet a year, and with weather forecasts promising plummeting temperatures and a high risk of snow in January 2017, there is increased risk of damage to your home during this cold spell.
Flood restoration services
The first thing to consider if snow is causing a problem is to take a look at your property outside. Take a look at your roof. If there is not much snow on your roof, this indicates a big problem, although in theory, one that can be remedied by you fairly easily. If your house is the only one in the street without snow on the roof, this means that you have little or no loft insulation fitted to your home.
You may also not have lagged pipes or cold water tank. This means you stand a big chance of the pipes or the tank bursting when the water inside freezes and expands, meaning that you could wake up to a burst water tank, and the contents in your front room.
No loft insulation means that you are literally heating your roof, and as a result, your home heating bills will be very high and in fact you have the heating or fire turned on, but still feel cold? That is the reason why. Heat can also escape through the walls, and we talked about this in an earlier blog post.
As soon as the snow melts, get yourself some loft insulation and either fit it yourself, get a contractor to do it or you can apply for a grant for free loft insulation.
Snow could damage your home in the following ways:
Whilst snow falls as light as a feather, layers of snow can become very heavy. A cubic foot of snow usually weighs around 0.5kg, but this can increase to much more if the snow is heavily packed and dense. A weaker roof structure, such as on a shed, greenhouse, or lean-to protecting your car, could easily be more at risk from the weight of snow. If the structure isn’t strong enough, it could collapse and cause damage to your building or contents. The main roof of your house could also be at risk from snow damage. If a large weight of snow falls on your roof and then slides off, then it could cause damage to items below it.
With snowfall comes low temperatures and risk of burst pipes; The Guardian reports a 500% increase in insurance claims resulting from frozen pipes during the winter time. If you are away during winter, your pipes could easily burst with sudden changes in temperature that often come with snow. All it takes is for water to be stagnant in pipes for a short time, with sudden freezing temperatures and a cold insulating layer of snow, you could find damage to your building and contents from a burst pipe on your return.
If snow conditions are really bad, and you live in a more remote or less urban area, you may find yourself stranded in your home. You should always be prepared for bad weather during winter months and have a snow shovel and gritting material to make it easier to come in and out if your house. If you have domestic staff coming into your home, such as a cleaner, nanny or home help, you may find that you're responsible for any injury they suffer on your property. Snow can create particularly treacherous conditions, so it’s important that you protect yourself and those who come to your home against accidents and injury.
Whilst snow can make the world look like a winter wonderland, as it covers everything in a layer of delicate white, it can also bring a darker more dangerous side of damage to your home. If you invest in good home insurance and prepare for bad weather, you should be able to enjoy all the beauty that a white winter has to offer.
Remember that snow will eventually melt and when it does it can lead to water damage. Heavy snow can cause your roof tiles to move and shift. Leaks in your roof will become apparent when the snow melts and you have wet ceilings.
FAQs
A. Here at Tempest Restoration we have been providing flood restoration services to properties across the UK. In that time we have dealt with water damage of all scales. Over the years have not only been involved in 1000's of small domestic disaster restoration claims but also major incidents from the Cumbrian floods to the Buncefield fire at the oil storage terminal in Hertfordshire. Our continuous investment in the very latest flood drying equipment and technician training enables us to handle professionally any size and scale of flood damage. Our aim is to provide a prompt, professional and reliable disaster restoration service to domestic and commercial property owners.
A. We are fully equipped to clean up flood damage after all types of flood. Over the years we have helped thousands of homeowners and businesses alike recover from Coastal flooding, River flooding, Flash flooding, Groundwater flooding and Sewer flooding. Read our guide on common types of flood water. We are able to deal with all types of water including clean water, grey water (a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when consumed or even exposed to) and black water (water which contains unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness). Read our guide on common categories of water. Floods can be caused for many different reasons. Heavy rainfall, storm water, river flooding, coastal surges, leaking/burst pipes or human error are all typical causes of flood water in the home or business premises. The source of the ingress isn't always visible neither. Water can trace itself to a point from a large distance away from the entry source. Here at Tempest we have specialist detection equipment for trace and access on water ingression to a property.
A. Flood water can devastate a property. The damage may be imperceptibly slow and minor such as water spots that could eventually mar a surface. At this point, the potential damage done to a structure that you may not have been aware of can be large in scale. Or, it may be instantaneous and catastrophic such as flooding. However fast it occurs, water damage is a major contributor to loss of property. Whatever the cause, primary flood damage is just the beginning and you need to act fast to minimise the consequences of secondary damage. Your home is full of porous materials that absorb water like a sponge which will damage structural integrity. Water causes corrosion and damages electrical equipment which can be fatal if not identified. Residual moisture becomes water vapour throughout the building which will condense. If the water is not completely removed it can lead to dry rot and a high risk of microbial growth e.g. mould and bacteria which is damaging to your health and isnt always something visible to the naked eye like typical black mould in a bathroom.
A. After a safety assessment, we look to identify the cause of the water leak or ingress using various tools and equipment. Our experienced team of technicians will look to make a decision on the best course of action for your situation. The next stage utilises advanced water removal equipment followed by rapid drying technology and humidity control to remove the water and moisture from the property.
A. Their are many potential health risks associated with flood water. Apart from the initial potential risk of drowning, the further potential risks to your health very much depend upon the nature of the water. We are able to deal with all types of water including clean water, grey water (a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when consumed or even exposed to) and black water (water which contains unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness). If there is any possibility of contamination DO NOT TOUCH IT, call Tempest Restoration on 0845 052 4522. Read our guide on common categories of water.
A. Every case is different and their are many factors that make up the scale of damage and repair required due to flood damage of a property. We recommend a site survey to ascertain the level of damage and repair required. Once on site, we are able to quickly advise on the best course of action to bring about the most effective recovery. Our state-of-the-art equipment ensures the remediation process will be thorough, effective and as fast as possible, returning your home or business to normality as quickly as possible. Using the latest technology and with highly experienced technicians, our aim is to complete the restoration in the best way to reduce costs and prevent secondary damage in the future.
A. Every flood is unique and as such the timescale is dependent on many variations and factors. A small scale water leak is usually quiker to repair than large scale flooding caused by a river overflowing. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will assess the damage and act fast and efficiently to provide a tailored and precise response to your properties specific requirements. The use of modern equipment, rapid drying technology and working practise means that your home or business will be safely and quickly returned to normal, minimising disruption and cost.
A. We operate across the UK with technicians available in major towns and cities. Our head office is based in Swaffham, Norfolk where we undertake all our training.