Top Tips for Avoiding Cracks & Leaks in Your Home This Winter

The arrival of winter can bring with it a whole host of problems for your home if you don’t prepare properly, and it could be a costly mistake. You’ll need to add a few basic tasks to your list of regular household chores if you want to avoid having to pay someone to fix cracks and leaks in your home during the colder months. Here a foundation solutions company outlines the things you can do to safeguard your home against winter damage. 

Keep indoor pipes warm

A frozen pipe can lead to splits and leaks when ice expands inside it. This could leave you without running water, or at worst flood your home if the pipes burst. To prevent this, try to find a way for warm indoor air to reach the pipes or make use of foam insulation sleeves to keep them

warm. You could also turn up your heating or use a portable electric heater for colder internal areas, or apply heat directly to a frozen pipe using a hairdryer or warm cloth – just make sure to warm the pipe up slowly. 

Look out for cracks

Check your brickwork and gutters for any signs of cracking or crumbling, as well as window and door frames. Get someone to repair minor cracks before the cold really sets in to avoid more expensive repairs later down the line, or fill cracks with expanding foam or sealant. When water freezes inside cracks it expands and can cause brickwork to crumble, which means your walls could become unstable. Frozen water in gutters can cause water damage and may even lead them to pull away from the house. Try to get any cracks fixed or sealed before it gets really cold. 

Leak proof your home

Water finding its way into your home can cause severe structural damage and lead to mould growth, as well as increasing your energy bills. Inspect your roof and replace or repair any broken tiles, and if you have a chimney look out for any cracks that need to be sealed before winter arrives. If you have an attic, make sure it has proper insulation, and don’t forget to clear your gutters of debris which could block drains and cause water to run down your walls (which could lead to leaks). Similarly, leakproof your foundations, doors, windows and pipes. 

With a bit of extra time and effort, you can prevent leaks and cracks from damaging your home in winter, potentially saving you a lot of money in the long run.