Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) The extreme cold and non stop snow this month is beginning to take a toll on homes.
"Take inventory," said Domenic Cortese, President of Cortese Construction and host of Hammertime Radio on WBEN. "Do you have icicles or ice dams? That's an indication of heat loss. Frozen water lines are also a tremendously damaging thing to have happen."
Cortese said if you do have a frozen water line, don't panic.
"If it hasn't burst yet, it's good news. Try to get the line wrapped with insulation Or, bring a small space heater in to help thaw it out. Don't ever use an open flame.
Another thing that he said many people are guilty of, is not turning off their exterior hose bib line, that connects to the home's plumbing. That can lead to a lot of problems too, including basement flooding.
Cortese stressed making sure your furnace vents are clear. "Most furnaces will shut off if the lines are blocked by snow. Everyone needs to be mindful of
carbon monoxide contamination. It can happen with any appliance that burns gas. Be sure that you have a plug-in style working carbon monoxide detector. They should be replaced every seven years," he noted.
A warning to those who have water siphoned backup sump pumps. If the discharge line becomes frozen, it could result in basement flooding. Cortese said make sure the discharge line is piped well away from the house. The best solution, he explained, is to bury them into a conductor line that runs away from the house, to prevent water from flowing back.