Common Winter Hazards for South Dakota Homes

Winter is right around the corner, which means you should expect at least 37 inches of snowfall. Those who live in the Western side of the state near the mountains may experience close to double that amount, lasting till around April, so don’t put away your winter clothes too soon.

South Dakota winter has a unique set of challenges due to the state's particular weather patterns and greater amounts of ice forming as winters have been warming up for the past few years.

Want to keep your family safe when winter comes around? Restoration Rx, the only company that can give certified forensic roof inspections in the greater Sioux Falls area, wants you to be aware of these four common winter hazards that affect South Dakota homes.

Common Winter Hazards Inside Your Home

Let’s take a look at the indoor hazards first!

Lack or Improper Installation of Insulation

If you noticed last year that your home doesn’t heat evenly throughout or that the bottom floor of your home is especially cold, you probably have an issue with your roof insulation.

Hot air rises and goes to wherever it is cold, so if your insulation isn’t done correctly, you’ll lose heat in the rest of your home as it escapes outside.

Fire

Ironically, the season when you imagine serene snowscapes is also when fires are most common.

You should always be careful when doing your holiday cooking, look out for what you put around your fireplace, don’t overburden your electrical system with too many lights, and watch out for where you put space heaters.

Common Winter Hazards Outside Your Home

The list of outdoor winter hazards can be long in South Dakota, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top two.

Roof Preparation

There are a lot of steps and precautions to check for your roof to be in tip-top condition for the winter.

Contact us at Restoration Rx for a check-up before winter comes in full swing or if you know you have any of these problems with your roof:

• Leaks

• Ice Dams

• Holes

• Broken Tiles or Shingles

• Rotten Wood

• Broken Roof Vents

• Moss or Mold

Gutter Issues

Seeing that South Dakota winters have become milder throughout most of the state, especially the eastern part, snow, and ice melt more frequently throughout the winter. Cleaning out your gutters of fall leaves, debris, and sticks will make it so that melted snow and ice will pass through more easily.

Clogged gutters are more than unsightly; They can cause roof leaks, and frozen gutters can form ice dams!

Prep Your Home for Winter Storms With Restoration Rx

Most people in South Dakota have their roofs inspected right before winter starts, so you are just in time. Restoration Rx offers emergency storm damage repair for residential and commercial properties and LeakFREE® Certification from our NRCIA-certified forensic roof inspectors.

Contact us today for a quote for your home in South Dakota!