HENRICO COUNTY, Va -- Winter weather blew into the area Friday and Saturday, and some of that historic accumulation even found its way inside some area homes. Some local homeowners remembers what it looks like all too well.
Homeowners in the Waterford and Wyndam Forest neighborhoods reported that snow blew through vents or soffits and into attic spaces. Veteran home inspector Perry Lombard, owner of Central Virginia Home Inspections, said this is a common occurrence during winter storms, and if the snow is not removed, it can lead to interior ceiling damage.
"Most homeowners won't even know it's there," said Lombard, who urges homeowners to check their attics if they have not already done so.
Lombard urges homeowners to check their attics if they have not already done so.
"All of the sudden there is a leak in the attic and [the homeowners] don't know where it's coming from," he said. "The snow has probably melted, and they're probably going to think it's their roof when it really isn't a roofing problem."
Lombard took a CBS 6 crew on an exterior tour of a Henrico home to point out troubled areas during winter storms. Plumbing, dryer, and roof vents that are not properly sealed can lead to damage, he said.
He also warned of "ice dams," where melting snow from the top of a roof drains down to a frozen gutter or overhang that blocks the water from draining properly. Ice dams can lead to water backing up into attics and crawl spaces, according to Lombard.
"Ice dams," is where melting snow from the top of a roof drains down to a frozen gutter or overhang that blocks the water from draining properly.
"If the water can't find a way off of the roof, then it's going to back up into the roof and ultimately back into the house," he said. "[The repair bill] could run into several thousand dollars, depending on how much damage was done and what needs to be done to correct it. Because if it has happened once it absolutely can happen again."
Lombard said most of these issues can be fixed by a local contractors through weatherization. He suggests getting the problem fixed now before another winter storm hits the area.
