How Melting Snow Can Affect Plumbing

How Melting Snow Can Affect Plumbing

It may not feel like it quite yet, but spring is coming and coming fast. Just as cold weather and ice can affect your plumbing, so too can melting ice and snow. Here are a few things to watch out for as we inch closer to March and April — and warmer temperatures.

Gutter Clogging

If you did not clean out your gutters before the snow hit, you would have some gunk to clean out when the snow melts. Trapped leaves and debris will freeze under the snow and ice. However, once the temperature warms and the ice begins to melt, all that debris can start to rot, creating a gross mess. If you don’t remove this debris, it can cause problems later — it might become a favorable location for pests and can clog your gutters and downspouts.  

Leak Development

Whether it is trapped ice on the roof melting and getting into cracks in the ceiling or melted snow turning into groundwater, one thing to look out for this spring is leaks and water damage. Leaking groundwater can overwhelm your sump pump if it’s not prepared and maintained properly. Meanwhile, water getting in through the roof or walls can create a lot of internal damage.

Sediment Spreading

There are a lot of sediments that can be spread into our water supplies and plumbing systems thanks to melting snow and ice. One such sediment is magnesium chloride, often used in the winter to melt ice on roads. When the magnesium chloride is carried into pipes through melting snow, it can potentially cause metal pipes and appliances to corrode.

Get in Touch With Us for Professional Plumbing Assistance

Whether you want to repair any wintertime damage or want to ensure your pipes are protected this spring, Birmingham Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help. Contact us today to learn more about preventing and repairing snow and ice damage.