Three ways to protect your house from snow damage
Parts of Johannesburg are experiencing snow. Here is how you can protect your home...
South Africans are dealing with extremely cold temperatures, and snow began to fall in some areas such as KZN, Johannesburg, and the Eastern Cape.
As a result, the weather service issued 'an Orange Level 5 warning for damaging winds that could result in damage to settlements, properties and temporary infrastructure', reports The South African.
Let's look at how to protect your home below.
READ: Winter is here – first snowfall of the season expected by Friday
Seal your windows and doors
Use caulk to seal windows and doors. This will help prevent cold air and melting snow from entering your home. This will also help keep your house warm.
Ensure your gutter is cleared
If your gutter isn't clear from leaves and sticks, snow can build up and cause ice dams. Ice dams are defined by International Risk Management Institute as an accumulation of frozen water in the gutter system and at the roof edge that prevents subsequent drainage of melting snow from leaving the roof.
Ice dams can cause damage to walls, ceilings, and can tear off your gutters or lead to mould, rot, and water leakage on the roof.
Protect the pipes from bursting
During subzero temperatures, water in the pipes can freeze and cause the pipes to burst.
Burst pipes can cause damage to your home and leave you with a massive repair bill.
To prevent this, insulate pipes that are not insulated.
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Image courtesy of iStock/ @Alexander Shapovalov