One of the most common types of water damage that homeowners experience in the winter are frozen pipes. When the temperatures get too cold, the pipes can freeze, and ultimately burst. When pipes burst it can bring a lot of unwanted water damage to your home. Here are some tips for winter water damage prevention with frozen pipes. 

• Make sure to insulate any pipes that are in unheated areas like basements or garages. 
• Running a small trickle of water through the pipes every once in awhile will help them from freezing. 
• Set your thermostat to the same temperature during the day and night to lessen the chances of the pipes freezing.  
• Shut off all outdoor water sources during the winter. 

Another huge cause of winter water damage to your home is the abundance of melting snow. When you have a lot of snow on your roof and it begins to melt, it can be very dangerous for your home. As it melts it can cause flooding or mold growth. Heavy amounts of snow on your roof can also cause dams or cause the roof to cave in from structural damage. For winter water damage prevention with melting snow, here are some helpful tips. 

• Use a snow removal tool to remove snow off your roof frequently. 
• Clean out the snow from your gutters as well. If leftover water is left when it melts, it can cause your gutters to freeze and crack. 
• Remove snow once it gets to 15cm deep. 
• Keep a thin layer of snow on the roof when cleaning it off. This acts as a barrier from scraping your roof with the snow removal tool.  
• If using a ladder to remove snow off your roof, make sure it is stable and that you have someone assisting you.