Winter meltdown may cause problems for Calgary homeowners

I have a feeling we’ll be talking about February 2019 for years to come – not just for how it impacted us but for the impact on our homes. 

Did you know, it was coldest February since 1979? The average temperature was -18.5C with too many days reaching into the -30’s, and ZERO days above zero. On top of that we had snow 25 days out of 28, the most ever recorded. Whew. 

No matter how well built, our homes struggle given these periods of prolonged cold. Doors shift, windows freeze up, and pipes break. And unfortunately, some issues won’t come to light until we start to thaw. 

So with much warmer temperatures predicted next week, I thought it was timely to address what to watch for. 

Attic Rain 

You may have heard about this on the news recently. The cause of attic rain is condensation in the attic space of our homes turning to ice and building up over time.

Once we get warmer weather, the frozen build-up in the attic will melt and depending on how much build up there is will then show itself as water leaking back into the house. It often shows up as dark wet spots on your ceilings or water coming out through light fixtures or speaker holes. 

While attic rain is possible every winter, it can be much worse with the continuous freezing temperatures we experienced this year. Houses that have never experienced any problems before may have issues because it has been so cold for so long. Although a number of factors may contribute to attic rain, it is ultimately the result of insufficient attic venting so that moist warm air from inside the house cannot be evacuated from the attic space before it has a chance to freeze and build up. 

Basement Leaks

Despite our high hopes for warmer weather, basement leaks become more of a concern when we are looking at a rapid spring thaw. All of the snow is going to turn to water and that water needs somewhere to go. For any number of reasons, this water can find its way into your basement. Common issues are foundation cracks, basement window wells, and poor grading around the basement exterior. 

The freeze-thaw cycles of an early spring can also be dangerous for home foundations and a cause of basement leaks.  Water freezes and expands at night putting pressure on your home’s foundation, then thaws during the day and pulls away. The repetition of this cycle can cause cracks to form. 

Ice Damming

Ice damming was a prevalent issue last year and could cause homeowners grief again this year. This cold weather phenomena also ends up causing interior water issues and damage. 

Ice dams are thick ridges of solid ice that build up along the eaves – and often appear in Calgary during freeze thaw cycles. Dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your house. 

Like attic rain, the aftermath can be peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings, and soggy attic insulation. 

When experiencing any of these issues it is very important to enlist the services of an experienced contractor that understands building science so that realistic and practical solutions can be employed. 

Unfortunately, these issues are difficult to rectify during the winter season and often the best we can do is observe, diagnose and manage the situation until remediation and solutions can be employed when the weather permits.

To get help managing any of these issues in the coming weeks, please feel free to reach out any time with your questions. We’re here to help you ensure your home is safe and cared for. Please give me a call at 403-390-7708 or shoot me an email.