When it snows a lot, the skiing is great. But what happens when all the snow melts?

The skiing is awesome. And Steamboat Springs is on track for a record-breaking snow season. 302 inches so far and it’s only the middle of the season. But as amazing as this winter has been, I wanted to talk about a few things you need to start thinking about.

1. Snow load on your roof

2. Spring run-off – because all this snow will eventually turn into water

3. Water detection devises See Video on ICE DAMS and more –    • Real Estate Tips on Buying in the Win…  

See video on the WATER SENSOR –    • Protect your HOME from WATER DAMAGE |…  

Do you need to shovel my roof? That’s a tough question and I can’t really answer that because every home is different. Most newer homes in Steamboat are engineered to hold the snow and don’t require shoveling. But many older homes were not built to current snow load requirements and thus might need further evaluation. The American Society of Civil Engineers issued standards regarding the Minimum Design for snow loads. But these standards were first published in 1988. Thus, if your home was constructed before 1988, it might not comply with these regulations. Snow loads are measured by pounds per cubic foot. Fresh snow is about 3.75 pounds per cubic foot. But wind packed snow is heavier at about 15 pounds. Wet snow and ice can be 40-50 pounds per cubic foot. Sun, shade, wind, rain, melting from heat loss, all have an effect of the weight of the snow. But the weight of the snow is not the only reason you might want to shovel your roof. When the snow is deep, it can also start to backing up against your siding, or chimney of other parts of the home that might not have adequate flashing and thus, you might start getting water leaks around those areas. So it’s not just the weight of the snow but where all the snow is going. Again, while the vast majority of homes in Steamboat Springs don’t need the roof shoveled based on weight alone, many homes might require some snow removal in specific areas of the roof depending on the home. If you think this might apply to your home, there are some warning signs to be aware of. Icicles or ice buildup – remember, ice weighs a lot more than snow so if you have an area that ice is prevalent, that area may benefit from some snow removal. To learn more about ice dams, I made a video about that so click up here or see the link in the description below. Visible signs of overstressing – Cracking drywall, odd sounds, sagging ceilings and water marks are all things to be aware of. If you’re uncertain about the snow on your roof, call a structural engineer or a general contractor and have them come take a look.

With all this snow pack, it eventually will melt and become water. While that great for the rivers, it could cause havoc for home owners. Depending on how fast it warms up, when all this snow melts, its really going to saturate the ground. A lot of homes in Steamboat have a sump pump in their crawlspace or basement. This pump removes any water that seeps into these areas. During springs time, some sump pumps run 24/7. Others just turn on when enough water triggers the pump. But sump pumps can fail and you need to be ready. If your sump pump runs a lot, you might want to have a spare pump on site or even run a second one to remove all the water. Lastly, if you have a sump pump in an area that ground water is present, you can add a little insurance by installing a Water detection device near the sump pump. That way, if your sump pump fails, you will receive a notice on your phone. I made a video about such a device, click up here to view that video but in short, Google “water sensor device” and choose whatever one fits your home. So, get out there and enjoy the great snow but be a little vigilant about your roof and prepare your home for what could be some springtime flooding.

CREDITS TO: Eli Campbell @ KQEZ – The REEL – 95.5FM for the “always mountain time” snow report.

Charlie Dresen | The Group Real Estate charlie@SteamboatsMyHome.com 970-846-6435 #steamboatsprings#realestatetips#snow