It's Freezing!

It's cold out!  Things will freeze.  Be aware of some items on the exterior of your home that could be potential problems.

Ice dams occur when snow collects on your roof and a cycle of melting and refreezing occurs.  This can cause a lot of water damage inside your home.  Keep gutters clear as best you can.

Sump pump discharge pipes cannot freeze.  Backup of the sump pump can cause flooding into the basement and also burn out your pump motor.  Check this every few days to be sure that your water is running out and away from the home's foundation.  Sometimes burying this pipe and routing it away from the home's foundation is a good option.

Keeping window wells as clear as possible will help with keeping water out of your basement as well.  Covers over the window wells in the winter is not a bad idea to keep water from leaking through the windows.

   

Pooling and Damming Comes with Spring

Now that we’re finally enjoying a small reprieve from the February snows, it’s time to pay attention to pooling and damming due to snow and ice build-up. These can cause severe drainage issues—even if your property is properly graded. In general, that means there’s a slope of about six inches within the first ten feet, and the highest grade at least six inches below any exterior trim or siding on your house.

To avoid problems, we recommend removing any ice or snow from within 8 feet of your house. This allows water to flow away from the house as you had previously planned.

Even the city of Milwaukee is getting in on the action, according to WISN news. The Department of Public Works crews are out clearing snow and debris from sewer grates—and even reacting to calls from residents.

Once you’ve cleared your residence, keep an eye out for your neighbors as well and call the city at 414-286-CITY if you find standing water nearby.

Watch for Pooling and Damming

Now that we’re finally enjoying a small reprieve from the February snows, it’s time to pay attention to pooling and damming due to snow and ice build-up. These can cause severe drainage issues—even if your property is properly graded. In general, that means there’s a slope of about six inches within the first ten feet, and the highest grade at least six inches below any exterior trim or siding on your house.

To avoid problems, we recommend removing any ice or snow within 8 feet of your house. This allows water to flow away from the house as you had previously planned.

Even the city of Milwaukee is getting in on the action, according to WISN news. The Department of Public Works crews are out clearing snow and debris from sewer grates—and even reacting to calls from residents.

Once you’ve cleared your residence, keep an eye out for your neighbors as well and call the city at 414-286-CITY if you find standing water nearby.