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Unprepared homeowners, especially those in the South, where snowstorms aren’t common, face the prospect of widespread damage and costly repairs.
Here are five steps you can take to limit the damage.
Check the forecast
Sudden temperature swings can cause snow to melt quickly, increasing the risk for snowmelt runoff and floods. Pay attention to the forecast to get a sense of how fast you’ll need to act to prevent water damage.
“The main concern with ice jams is flooding,” said CNN Meteorologist Jennifer Gray. “The most common places for ice jams are usually near bridges and sharp turns in rivers. When large chunks of ice flow up against a bridge, that bridge acts like a dam causing the water to back up behind it.”
The risk doesn’t necessarily decrease when the ice begins to melt. In fact, it could cause more water to spill over and contribute to flooding.
Move snow away from your home
Before the melting starts, you should move snow away from your home.
One cubic foot of compacted snow holds between two to three gallons of water, according to North Dakota State University. Once that snow melts, it soaks everything in its path.
NDSU advises homeowners to move snow a few feet away from their homes so that water doesn’t drip along basement walls, seep inside and cause damage.
Check your gutters. Even if they’re clean, water can turn to ice and cause blockage, leading to large and small pools of water.
Test your flood defense
A sump pump, which pumps excess water out of basements via a discharge line, can be installed at the lowest point in your house to prevent it from flooding.
If you have one, conduct this simple test to see if it works: Pour water into the well around the pump, which should raise the float and start the motor. If it starts and you see the water you poured into the well start to drain out, your home should be protected in the case of flooding.
Some sump pumps are water powered, while others work on electricity. If yours is the latter, make sure to install a secondary power source, such as a backup battery or generator.
Turn off the water
Cold temperatures can cause water pipes to freeze, crack or burst.
If your pipes did freeze, you’ll know because faucets will sputter or stop providing water altogether.
Because frozen pipes often lead to cracked ones, you should turn off the water before the ice melts. This way, water doesn’t leak inside your home and cause expensive damage.
Next, call a plumbing service for help. They can thaw your pipes, check for cracks and make repairs before the problem gets too big.
Dry your home
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, snowmelt runoff will still leak into your home.
If that happens, you’ll need to act fast. “Dry any wet building materials or items like carpeting, furniture, insulation and drywall to avoid mold, mildew and further damage,” Erie Insurance says.
The longer you wait, the worse the damage will be — likely increasing the cost of repair.
You should also document the incident, taking photos and videos of the damage before and after you address them. This way, if you report it to an insurance company, you’ll have the evidence needed to support your claim.
CNN’s Pedram Javaheri and Allison Chinchar contributed to this report.
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