SNOW BLAST: THE DOS & DON’TS OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW

THE DOS & DON’TS OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW

We have officially seen the largest snowfall in Lincoln in over 50 years! If the 15 inches of snow have left you lost as to what to do, we have some snow dos and don’ts.

1) Do remove at least some snow from your roof to prevent ice dams either by a roof rake or shovel. Removing snow at least from roof overhangs will help prevent ice dams from starting as the snow over your attic will start melting from the warm roof deck and run down to the eaves where the roof deck is cold. Then the water will turn to ice and start building up a dam of ice, which can back up underneath your roofing and leak into the house. Removing snow from the overhang will allow water to run down to the gutter and minimize ice dams to the gutter area only, which will not then leak to the inside of your house.

2) Do rake your roof as routinely as possible, preferably with a rake that has rollers or bumpers on the blade that keep the blade from directly touching your shingles. (a plastic or poly-edged rake will also do)

3) Don’t try to shovel your roof snow yourself. There is too much risk of falling off your roof if you do not normally work on roofs. Hire a roof snow removal service instead.

4) Don’t put any salt products on your roof unless you want to have discolored shingles, not to mention dead plants where it runs off.

5) Do, as a rule of thumb, rake your roof after every 6″ or so of snowfall so that it never piles up too much.

6) Do be careful of any overhead power lines when raking your roof. Most roof rakes are made of some type of metal, which can lead to a “deadly shocking” experience.

7) Do start raking at the roof edge and work your way up the roof. Take small amounts of snow at a time so as to not strain your muscles.

8) Do make sure that any roof snow removal companies are insured if you hire one.

9) Don’t pile snow up against your house. As the snow melts and waterworks, it’s way down along your foundation, the freezing of this water can cause damage to your foundation.

10) Do make sure that all exhaust vents on your house are clear of snow piles. Check your dryer vents, bath exhaust fan outlets, kitchen exhaust fan outlets, and furnace vents to make sure they are clear.

11) Do check your gas meter to be sure snow has not blocked the small vent on the meter.

12) Do make safety the number one priority while working with snow. Many injuries occur due to slipping on snow, improper use of tools, or just using your body in a different way that causes muscle pulls or strains. Please stay safe.