Fort Worth, Texas, winters are generally fairly mild, even pleasant, but that doesn’t mean that homeowners in the area should overlook preparations for the cooler months. Even a single day’s worth of snow and freezing temperatures could wreak havoc on a home without the necessary precautions. Here are a few things you should add to your regular household tasks this winter:
- Keep Your Gutters Clean
While not the most exciting job, keeping your gutters clean is an important task. The purpose of gutters is to take all the excess rainwater and divert it away from your home, protecting your roof and foundation in the process. This becomes even more important in the winter, where large amounts of snow can pile up in a single night. If your gutters are clogged, the thawing snow trapped in place can prove too much for the structural integrity of your house, leading to water damage.
- Keep Your Roof Clear
It’s also important to clear snow off the roof whenever possible. This is especially important if your part of town doesn’t see snow on a regular basis, as it’s likely that the buildings are less equipped to handle such issues. Sudden heavy snow that piles just enough weight onto certain pressure points on your roof can actually cause the roof to collapse altogether. No special tools are necessary for the job — any large broom can take care of removing enough snow to keep your family safe.
- Keep Your Pipes Free of Clogs
Finally, inside your home, you should be extra mindful of clogging your drains. Winter often involves more hearty cooking and more food waste produced. Sometimes substances like used cooking oil or grease are poured down the train. Once inside your pipes, these substances cool down and congeal, creating blockages. This is particularly risky in the winter, as the cooler temperatures could cause the water trapped in those pipes to freeze and burst through the pipes altogether, leading to water damage.
These strategies can go a long way towards protecting your Fort Worth home in the winter, but sometimes plumbing problems still happen. Whatever your plumbing needs might be, the professionals at Hawk PHAC are ready to help. To get more information or schedule an appointment, simply fill out our online form or give us a call at (817) 242-6894.