Your Home's Cold Winter Warnings by Courtney Ronan Ah, the joys of winter. Shoveling the driveway. Piling enough layers on yourself to give the Michelin man a run for his money. All of them small inconveniences compared to what could await you if you don't give your house the once-over during these winter months. The harsh elements can wreak havoc on your home, and although most homeowners are aware of that, we're not sure how to conduct an inventory on our own homes to ward off the possibility of winter-induced damage and subsequent expenses.
Frozen pipes can be a disaster.
If they remain unnoticed and ultimately burst, the subsequent damage to your home is enormous. And replacing all carpeting and flooring is just the beginning. During particularly cold temperatures, ice can accumulate in roof vent stacks, causing them to clog. Air admittance valves, commonly called AAVs, are vulnerable not only to the elements, but also to homeowner ignorance. Perhaps nothing seems quite as diastrous as a collapsing roof that gives under the weight of excessive snow.