Contractors Reveal What Destroys Homes Every Winter

The same five calls, every winter

Ask restoration crews and plumbers what January looks like and the answers are strikingly consistent. One: burst supply lines in garages, crawlspaces, and exterior walls — almost always uninsulated pipe plus a thermostat set too low or a door left cracked. Two: ice dams — attic heat melts roof snow, refreezing at the eaves and driving water under shingles into ceilings; the fix is attic insulation and ventilation, not roof rakes alone.

…and three more

Three: water heater failures. Cold inlet water makes winter the season aging tanks quit — usually by leaking from the bottom. If yours is past 10 years, plan the replacement instead of hosting the flood. Four: furnace strain fires and CO events — blocked filters, blocked exhaust vents (including snow-covered sidewall vents), and space heaters on overloaded circuits. Five: gutter and downspout failures — clogged gutters become ice-loaded pry bars that peel fascia and dump meltwater at the foundation.

The one-weekend prevention list

• Insulate exposed pipe runs; foam covers on every exterior bib.
• Thermostat never below 55°F — vacation included.
• Fresh furnace filter; clear every exhaust vent after snow.
• Gutters cleaned after the last leaf drop; downspouts discharging 4+ feet from the foundation.
• Water heater older than 10 years: get a replacement quote now, on your schedule instead of the tank's.

Get Winter-Ready