Most people think of water damage as a problem caused by summer storms. On Long Island, winter can be just as rough on a house, and sometimes rougher, because the damage often starts where you can’t see it.
A pipe freezes inside an exterior wall overnight.
Ice builds up along the roof edge after a few days of snow and sun.
A sump pump quits during a thaw.
None of it looks like an emergency at first. Then the ceiling stains, the basement carpet squishes, or the water bill jumps.
It’s easy to think, “This won’t happen to us.” Most houses go years without a winter problem. But it only takes one hard freeze, one nor’easter, or one week with the heat set too low to change that. In March 2018, Long Island took four nor’easters in about three weeks, with up to 20 inches of snow in Patchogue from the last one alone.
This guide covers the most common kinds of winter water damage we see, how to get ahead of them, and what to do if something goes wrong. And if you’re ever unsure whether a problem is serious, the simplest answer is to call. Ace’s team responds within an hour, day or night, with real people, not call centers.
Key Takeaways
- Frozen pipes are only one part of winter water damage. Ice dams, snowmelt flooding, failed sump pumps, and heating breakdowns cause plenty of damage too.
- Most winter leaks start out of sight, in walls, attics, crawl spaces, and basements, so the damage is often worse than it looks.
- Seasonal and second homes face the highest risk, because a small leak can run for days before anyone notices.
- Simple prep goes a long way. Keep the heat at 55°F or higher, insulate exposed pipes, and know where your main water shutoff is.
- If a pipe bursts, shut off the water first, then call for help. Fast drying is what keeps a leak from turning into mold.
- When in doubt, call. A quick conversation with a professional costs you nothing and can save you a lot.
Water where it shouldn't be?
The Many Forms of Winter Water Damage
Winter water damage doesn’t always come from one dramatic event. Here’s what tends to cause trouble in Long Island homes once the temperature drops.
Frozen and Burst Pipes
Water expands when it freezes. That builds pressure inside the pipe until something gives, and the split is often nowhere near the frozen spot. According to the American Red Cross, the pipes most at risk are the ones in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages, pipes under sinks on exterior walls, and outdoor hose bibs. The tricky part is timing. A frozen pipe usually doesn’t leak until it thaws, so the water often starts flowing once the weather warms up, sometimes days later.
Ice Dams
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of your roof. Heat escaping from the attic melts the snow on top, the water runs down to the colder eaves, and it refreezes. As the ridge grows, melting snow backs up behind it and can work its way under the shingles. IBHS notes that this water can leak into the attic and down inside the walls. By the time you see a stain on the ceiling, the insulation and drywall above it are usually already wet.
Snowmelt and Thaw Flooding
A big snowfall followed by a warm, rainy stretch can send a lot of water toward your foundation in a short time. If the ground is still frozen, it can’t soak in. That water looks for the easiest way in, which is often a basement wall, a window well, or a crack in the slab.
Sump Pump Failures
Sump pumps work hardest during thaws and winter storms, which is also when the power is most likely to go out. A discharge line that freezes outside can stop the pump from doing its job even when it’s running. If your basement depends on a sump pump, winter is the time to make sure it actually works.
Heating System Breakdowns
A boiler leak is an obvious problem. The bigger risk is a heating system that quietly stops working, especially when no one is home. Once the heat goes out, the pipes are next. A failed furnace in an empty house is one of the most common ways a small problem turns into a big one.
Frozen Sprinkler and Irrigation Lines
Irrigation lines that weren’t fully drained in the fall can freeze and crack. The damage often stays hidden until spring, when the system turns back on and water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t, sometimes right against the foundation.
Nor’easters and Coastal Flooding
Nor’easters bring a mix of heavy snow, wind-driven rain, and storm surge. Wind can push rain sideways into window frames and siding, and coastal flooding can put water straight into basements and crawl spaces. Long Island tends to get several of these storms each winter.
Hidden Damage That Shows Up in Spring
Some winter water damage doesn’t show itself until the weather warms up. A slow leak behind a wall, wet insulation in the attic, or moisture trapped under flooring can sit for weeks. Warmer temperatures then give mold what it needs to grow. Musty smells, warped floors, or peeling paint in the spring are often leftovers from winter.
If You Own a Seasonal or Second Home, This is For You
Plenty of Long Island houses sit empty from fall until Memorial Day. That’s the setup where winter water damage does the most harm. It isn’t because these homes have problems more often. It’s because nobody is there to catch the problem early.
In a house you live in, a burst pipe usually gets noticed within minutes or hours. In an empty house, water can run for days or even weeks before you’re made aware. By the time someone walks in, it has had time to soak through floors, ceilings, and walls, and mold may already be growing.
A few things make a big difference for homes that sit empty over the winter:
- Decide whether to winterize or keep the heat on. Either can work. Fully draining the plumbing is the safest choice for a house that will be empty all season. If you keep the heat on, set it no lower than 55°F, as the Red Cross recommends.
- Have someone check on the house regularly. A neighbor, caretaker, or property manager who walks through every week or so can catch a problem early. Ask them to check the basement and look up at the ceilings, not just the front hall.
- Use remote monitoring. Smart thermostats, water leak sensors, and temperature alerts are inexpensive and can warn you when the heat drops or water shows up on the floor.
- Know who you’ll call before you need to. If you get an alert at 2 a.m. from two hours away, it helps to already have a restoration company’s number saved. Ace Restoration is available 24/7/365.
Before the Freeze: A Simple Winter Prep Checklist
Most of this takes an afternoon, and it’s much cheaper than drying out a basement.
- Find your main water shutoff valve and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is. If it’s stuck or hard to turn, have it fixed now, not during an emergency.
- Disconnect garden hoses, shut off the indoor valves that feed outdoor spigots, and leave the outdoor spigots open so leftover water has room to expand.
- Drain irrigation and pool supply lines following the installer’s directions.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the basement, crawl space, attic, and garage with foam pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat cable.
- Keep the heat steady. Big nighttime setbacks save a little on heating but put pipes at risk. The Red Cross recommends never going below 55°F.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during cold snaps so warm air can reach the pipes.
- Let a faucet drip on very cold nights if it’s served by pipes along an outside wall.
- Clean gutters and downspouts so melting snow can drain away from the house.
- Check your attic for gaps in insulation and air leaks. According to IBHS, a cooler attic is one of the best defenses against ice dams.
- Test your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. Consider a battery backup if you lose power often.
- Get your heating system serviced before the first real cold snap.
- Save a 24/7 restoration number in your phone. You’ll be glad you did if something happens late at night.
A Pipe Just Burst. Now What?
It’s stressful, but the first hour matters most. Here’s what to do, in order. OInly attempt to manage these steps if you can do so safely.
- Shut off the main water valve. This is the single most important step. Every minute the water runs, it spreads farther into floors and walls.
- Turn off electricity to wet areas if you can safely reach the panel. If the water is near outlets or the panel itself, stay out and wait for help.
- Call for help. A plumber fixes the pipe. A restoration company deals with the water that’s already in your home. Most people need both, and the drying side is what keeps a leak from turning into mold.
- Take photos and video of the damage before anything gets moved or cleaned up. They’re useful for your records and for your insurance company.
- Move what you can. Get rugs, electronics, papers, and furniture out of the wet area or up off the floor.
- Soak up standing water with towels or a wet vac if it’s safe to do so. Don’t use a regular household vacuum.
If you’re dealing with a frozen pipe that hasn’t burst yet, the Red Cross advises keeping the faucet open and warming the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame. If you can’t find or reach the frozen section, call a licensed professional for help.
The Three Mistakes That Make Winter Water Damage Worse
Winter water damage is common, but a lot of the worst cases trace back to the same few decisions.
1. Thinking “It Won’t Happen to Me”
If your house has made it through 20 winters without a problem, it’s natural to assume it’ll make it through the next one. But pipes age, insulation settles, and weather changes. Every house that floods in January was fine the winter before.
2. Underpreparing
Most winter prep is simple and cheap. It just tends to get pushed off until the first freeze warning, and by then it’s too late. Fifteen minutes spent finding your shutoff valve in October can save you thousands in February.
3. Assuming You Don’t Need a Professional
This is the big one. The water you can see is usually only part of it. Water soaks into drywall, runs along framing, and settles under flooring. A floor can feel dry to the touch while the subfloor underneath stays wet. Box fans and a shop vac help, but they can’t tell you what’s going on inside the walls.
That’s why Ace starts every water damage job with moisture mapping, using moisture meters and thermal imaging to find hidden water. Then the team dries the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers. Moisture left behind is how a winter leak turns into a mold problem by spring.
When in Doubt, Just Call
You don’t need to be sure it’s serious to pick up the phone. Maybe there’s a small stain on the ceiling after a snowstorm. Maybe the basement smells different after a thaw, or a pipe dripped for a few hours before you caught it. A quick call to someone who sees this every day can tell you whether you’re fine or whether it’s worth a closer look. Either way, you’ll know where you stand.
Why Long Island Homeowners Call Ace
When there’s water in your house, you want a fast response and someone who knows what they’re doing. Here’s what you get with Ace:
- A response within 60 minutes, day or night. Water damage keeps spreading after hours, so we answer 24/7/365.
- Real people, not call centers. When you call, you talk to someone who can actually help.
- More than 27 years of experience restoring homes and businesses across Long Island.
- An IICRC Triple Master Restorer leading the company, a certification held by less than 3% worldwide.
- The whole job, start to finish. That covers water extraction, structural drying, cleaning and sanitizing, and repairs to drywall, flooring, and trim.
- Help with the paperwork. We handle the insurance paperwork and take on the insurance headaches for you, so you can focus on your family.
Have questions about your home this winter? Call Ace at (631) 395-3400 or (516) 982-9587. We're happy to talk it through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a pipe is frozen?
The most common sign is a faucet that only trickles, or doesn't run at all, when you turn it on. You may also see frost on an exposed pipe. If one faucet is frozen, check the others, since more than one pipe may be affected.
Can I dry out water damage myself?
You can handle small, surface-level spills with towels and a wet vac. Once water has gotten into drywall, insulation, carpet padding, or subfloors, it's hard to dry completely without professional equipment. Moisture left behind can lead to mold, warped floors, and odors.
How fast can water damage turn into mold?
It can happen quickly, which is why fast drying matters so much. Basements, attics, and crawl spaces are especially prone to mold after water damage. If you notice a musty smell after a leak, it's worth having it checked.
Do you help with insurance?
Yes. We handle the insurance paperwork and can bill your carrier directly. Coverage depends on your policy, so it's always a good idea to check with your insurance company about your specific situation.
My ceiling has a small stain after a snowstorm. Should I worry?
It could be a sign of an ice dam or a roof leak letting water into the attic. A small stain often means more moisture above it. Give us a call. We can help you figure out whether it needs attention now.
Does Ace handle burst and frozen pipe damage?
Yes. Burst and frozen pipe damage is one of the most common winter calls. We find hidden moisture, remove the water, dry the structure, clean and sanitize, and repair drywall, flooring, and trim.
Winter Water Damage Happens. You Don't Have to Handle It Alone.
You can’t control the next cold snap or nor’easter, but you can control how ready you are for it. Take care of the simple prep, keep an eye on the spots where water likes to hide, and don’t wait to ask for help when something seems off.
If you’ve got water where it shouldn’t be, or you just aren’t sure, call Ace Restoration. Our team responds within an hour, day or night, and we’ll tell you what we see.
