Avoid COSTLY water problems this weekend….

With the warmer weather approaching this weekend, and the threat of rain, we recommend that you take the time to inspect your home before it is too late.

Here is a list of items you will want to inspect to avoid costly water damage:

1 Make sure all gutter discharge lines are attached & have a clean discharge area beyond the length of the gutter

2 Clean out all areas around your sump-pump discharge line and make sure that the line is not frozen

3 Check your roof for any ice dams or large areas of snow and remove them

4 Clean out any sewer grates, or areas where water needs to flow...keeping it away from your property

Birth of an Ice Dam
1. Heat collects in the attic and warms the roof, except at the eaves.
2. Snow melts on the warm roof and then freezes on the cold eaves.
3. Ice accumulates along the eaves, forming a dam. Melt water from the warm roof backs up behind it, flows under the shingles, and into the house.

Fast Fixes
Hacking away at ice dams with a hammer, chisel, or shovel is bad for your roofing—and dangerous for you. And throwing salt on them will do more to harm to your plantings than to the ice. Short of praying for warm weather, here are two stop-gap measures we recommend: 

•Blow in cold air: Take a box fan into the attic and aim it at the underside of the roof where water is actively leaking in. This targeted dose of cold air will freeze the water in its tracks.  

•Rake it: Pull off snow with a long-handled aluminum roof rake while you stand safely on the ground. A rake with wheels won't harm the roofing.

If you need help with this, GMS will be happy to assist.