Serving Berthoud
Ice Dam & Roof Leak Damage Berthoud, CO
Snow melts over the warm roof and refreezes at the eave. The ridge of ice holds water back until it finds its way inside. Water held behind an ice dam enters slowly and keeps entering for as long as the snow and the ridge of ice remain. Ceilings and upper wall cavities near the eaves are opened where it collected, and wet insulation in the affected bays is removed.
First question on the call: how long was it empty?
Often needed alongside
- Structural Drying
Water that ran unnoticed reaches further than it shows. Drying brings walls, floors and framing back, measured point by point.
- Vacant & Second-Home Water Damage
A leak in an occupied house is found in hours. In an empty one it runs until the next visit, and that time is the size of the loss.
Frequently asked questions
Do new Berthoud homes need protecting from frozen pipes?
Less than older houses, but yes. Newer construction usually keeps water lines inside heated space, which leaves the exceptions: plumbing in garages, lines to outdoor faucets and anything along an outside wall. Disconnecting hoses in the fall and keeping the garage closed in cold weather covers most of the risk.
Why does a hose left on an outdoor faucet cause problems in Berthoud?
Because it keeps water trapped in the faucet and the short run of pipe behind it, inside the wall. When that water freezes, the pipe can split where nobody can see it, and the leak shows up only when the faucet is used again in spring, often inside a finished wall or basement.
What should a Berthoud townhome owner do before a winter trip?
Leave the heat at a moderate setting, give a neighbor or the association a way to reach you, and make sure someone can get inside if water appears. In attached homes a problem in one unit reaches the next, so a quick call from a neighbor can stop a leak before it spreads.
Return to Berthoud for what these answers rest on.