Winter is a harsh and unforgiving time of year. The days are short, the nights are long, and the weather can dampen more than your spirits — this season poses a legitimate threat to your home in many ways. Here are ten unique types of damage winter weather can do to a house and what you can do to prevent them.

1. Frozen Pipes

Water pipes in your basement, attic, or underground can freeze during winter. This problem could occur any day or night if the temperature is below 32° Fahrenheit. Ice causes the pipes to expand and separate, creating small leaks. In some cases, they’ll burst when the water thaws due to extreme pressure.

Burst pipes will temporarily leave you without water and might flood other parts of your home. Frozen sump pumps are especially problematic. If a flood occurs while your sump pump is frozen, you’ll have no means to prevent water from pouring into your basement and yard.

To protect your pipes this winter, keep the water pressure below 60 PSI and line the outsides with heating tape, so they don’t freeze. Buy an extra discharge hose for your sump pump in case the original one freezes. Whenever you plan on leaving for more than a few days, drain the pipes and shut off your home’s water, so nothing happens while you’re away.

2. Mold Growth

Winter is the most hospitable season for mold. The high moisture contents and warm temperatures of your attic and basement are ideal environments. Condensation from your windows could also cause mold growth. Mold produces allergens and mycotoxins that ruin your home’s air quality and may cause a medical emergency.

To prevent mold buildup, keep your home properly insulated and ventilated throughout the winter. Fix any leaks as soon as possible and cover your interior walls with mold inhibitors before applying new layers of paint.

3. Chipped Driveway

Asphalt driveways are prone to cracking and you have to seal them to prevent the breaks from getting bigger. You also have to be more careful when removing snow. Using metal shovels could make cracks and chips, turning your once smooth driveway into an eyesore that damages your car’s tires.

Use rubber-bladed shovels, and don’t go too crazy with the chemical de-icing solutions. Inspect your driveway for more damage after each snowfall.

4. Roof Leaks

Roof leaks are common during the winter due to a phenomenon called ice dams. Melted snow drips down to the roof's edges and refreezes, slowly creating huge chunks of ice. The water from untreated ice dams seeps into the shingles, causing major leaks. You have to remove these ice dams before they become threats.

If your roof is already leaking, the best course of action depends on several factors. Minor leaks might be repairable, but severe water damage and drooping require a complete roof replacement. A replacement might also be necessary if it has passed its expected life span. The roof is one of the most expensive parts of the house, so choose carefully.

5. Rotted Door Frames

Your door frames are exposed to winter’s cold and damp conditions for the whole season. They can become soft and start to rot as a result. In extreme cases of rotting, a termite infestation might occur and destroy the frames in weeks. If you notice any soft spots, fill them with an epoxy wood filler before they worsen.

6. Collapsing Gutters

Broken gutters are another nasty result of ice dams. Gutters aren’t strong enough to hold up under the weight of ice and snow, so ice dams will cause them to droop, detach and eventually collapse or fall off. Without this crucial drainage system, even more, water damage could occur in other parts of your house.

You can protect your gutters with the same heat tape you used on your water pipes. If you want a long-term solution, replace your gutter guards every few winters and install electric heating cables.

7. Peeling Exterior Paint

The paint on your house’s siding is also totally exposed to the elements. Unnoticeable cracks allow rain, snow, and ice to get underneath the layers of paint and cause it to peel. The siding will be okay, but the color will continue to crack and fall off with each new rainfall or snowfall. Make a point to repaint your siding at the beginning of every winter to plug up the cracks.

8. Cracked Foundation

Cracks naturally develop in a house’s foundation as it settles into the ground. These cracks are harmless on their own, but water can enter them and freeze during the winter, causing them to expand. The breaks will get bigger every time the water thaws and refreezes, compromising your home’s stability over time.

Allowing cracks to build up becomes riskier with each passing winter. The foundation could shift, leading to uneven floors, separated water lines, and dried-out soil. You must inspect your foundation regularly and seal up the cracks as they appear.

Protect Your Home This Winter

Winter’s less-than-ideal weather poses many challenges to the average house, both inside and outside. These eight types of damage are the most common and are often the most expensive if left unchecked. Stay proactive and address them before they do significant damage to your home and your wallet.

Author Bio: Rose Morrison