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Killer Icicles on Columbus Ohio Building

Record snow storms in February 2010

The four snowstorms in February 2010, dumped a total of 30.1 inches of snow in Columbus Ohio, which broke the previous 100 year record set in 1910 for total snowfall, in the month of February.

The February 2010 record snowstorms, in Columbus Ohio, caused a variety of problems for Central Ohio home owners, especially ice damming.  I can’t remember ever seeing so many long icicles hanging from gutters of homes and businesses all around Columbus.

Ice Damming Advice for Columbus Ohio Home Owners from a Home Inspector

Ken Harrington, an ASHI Certified Home Inspector and owner of Kustom Home Inspection, shared the following information on how to properly deal with ice damming, in response to the many calls and emails he received from maintenance employees, real estate agents, real estate brokers, and homeowners wanting to know what to do about the icicles and snow on their roofs.  Some home owners are experiencing leaks as a result of the ice damming.

Ken put together a list of Do’s & Don’ts that I hope will give you some guidance on these issues.

Don’t shovel snow off of the roof

First of all, never, ever, ever shovel snow off of your roof. Not only is it dangerous, but it could remove the outer layer, or granules, of the shingles and cause MORE damage than the snow. Don’t worry about the snow-load on your home. Most homes are built to withstand greater loads than what we have now, and that occasional creaking sound is most generally normal expansion and contraction of rafter joists or substrate materials.

Remove icicles from above frequently used doorways

DO remove the icicles from above doorways and areas that are used frequently by family members, but it is best to leave the rest alone. Their removal is not only dangerous, but you could damage the gutters and/or fascia board they are attached to. When water freezes it expands. Knocking the icicles loose could loosen the gutters and allow water to get behind them. During a freeze/thaw cycle it can exert hydrostatic pressure against the gutter system, forcing them away from the wall. When it thaws the water can leak between the gutters and the wall and can seep into the interior of your home through soffits and fascia.

Keep a constant eye out for gutter damage

With all of the weight from the snow and ice atop the gutters, you might experience some damage to the gutters, or they may loosen from the fascia. Be vigilant and keep a close eye on them, and have them repaired at the first sight of damage. When you do experience seepage onto an interior ceiling or wall, check your gutters in the area adjacent to the seepage first, but remember that water can and does travel along substrates before it finally drips.

Check around chimney flashings

The most frequent seepage from ice-damming is from around chimney flashings and other penetration points of the roof.  So be sure to keep an eye on the area around that fireplace.

Keep downspouts clear

Gutter leaks and wet basement diagram

Of greater consequence is where the snow and ice goes once it begins to melt. If you have exposed downspout drains, or surface drains, DO keep them clear of snow and obstructions so the water can flow out away from the home.

Keep snow away from heat pump

If you have a heat pump, DO keep the snow banks cleared away from the base of the unit. These need airflow to work properly, and an accumulation of deep snow on and around the appliance can result in needless waste of energy and expensive repair bills.

Remove snow from foundation

If you are physically able, consider removing the snow away from around your foundation. 5 feet is the magic number that should allow enough space between the melting snow & your foundation to allow most of the water to seep into the ground & not against your foundation wall. Snow blowers are worth every penny for this use alone.

Remember safety precautions

Don’t put a ladder on a snowy surface. The ladder could slip and cause serious injuries. Leaks, gutters, and roofs can be repaired, the loss of limbs or life cannot.

Check your sump pump

Basement drainage diagram of a newer home

DO check your sump pump. This little guy gets rid of all the water that seeps below the basement floor from this melting snow. If it is not working your basement could flood. If the sump discharges into the storm drain and the discharge line is tightly connected on the outside, leave it be. If it discharges on top of the grade, DO clear the snow from the area where it drains. This exercise helps prevent the water from freezing at the exhaust point, backing up in the discharge line and freezing and cracking the discharge line.

3 causes of water seeping into basements

The 3 main causes of water seeping into basements most generally are: gutters, grading, and groundwater. We call them the 3G’s. We can see and assess two of the three, and if you do what you can to keep them in proper working order, you will be less likely to experience trouble and will minimize damage caused by them. Attached I have a cut-away view of the typical basement and drainage system of a home, as well as an illustration of one of the causes of damp basements. Hope this helps.

Complete Columbus Ohio home inspection services

If you’re looking for a good home inspector in the Columbus Ohio area, I recommend Ken Harrington of Kustom Home Inspection.  They have completed over 3,500 home inspections throughout Central Ohio, are members of the BBB and have won the Super Service Award from Angie’s List.

Kustom Home Inspection is a one stop shop for all your Columbus Ohio home inspection needs.  Their home inspection services include: VA, FHA, HUD and bank owned foreclosure homes, licensed termite inspectors, gas line inspections, radon test, septic and well tests.

Feel free to contact Ken if you have any questions.

________________________________________

Ken Harrington, ASHI #212440
Owner Kustom Home Inspection
614-507-1061
kustomhomeinspection.com
Director, Ohio ASHI Board of Directors
V.P. OHASHI, Chairman Education Committee
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture License #90779
Mets Labs Certified Mold Specialist
U.S. FEMA Certification #28824
Ohio Dept of Radon License #RT683

WINNER ANGIE’S LIST SUPER SERVICE AWARD 4 YEARS RUNNING

One of the first things people relocating to Columbus Ohio often ask me is what’s the weather like in the Columbus Ohio area? People relocating from warmer areas like Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Texas are especially curious about winter weather and snow in Columbus.

I’ve had others who relocate to Columbus Ohio from New York, Boston and Chicago areas who wonder how our weather throughout the year compares to theirs? So I’m sharing information from various sources, to give anyone relocating to Columbus Ohio an idea of what our weather is like, throughout the year.

Columbus Ohio Weather Offers 4 Seasons for Variety

One of the most wonderful features of our weather in Columbus Ohio, is the fact that we have four seasons. While Columbus Ohio winter weather is not normally extreme, since I’m not a cold weather person at all, I most enjoy three out of the four seasons in Central Ohio. Now of course I do enjoy a white Christmas, but other than that, I prefer Spring, Summer and Fall over winter in Columbus Ohio.  My son, Isaac, on the other hand enjoys sledding in the snow and creating various snow creatures, so he looks forward to snowy weather.  I’ll start with my favorite season - Spring.

Spring officially starts on March 20 in Central Ohio.

March weather in Columbus Ohio really varies depending on the year.  Some years winter tries to linger and it’s not unusual to have one final snow storm in March or even rarely in April, before spring can take hold permanently.  As the temperatures are warming up, any snow on the ground is typically gone in a day or two. The last freeze of the year is usually in Mid-April but Mother’s Day usually marks the start of the  planting season for annuals.

Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Central Ohio because everything is so fresh and green from the spring rain.  It’s also my favorite time of the year because there is something so refreshing as you sense the warmth in the air that you know intends to stay for a while.  There’s a certain excitement in the garden in anticipation of seeing what perennials or spring bulbs magically pop out of the ground each day and then finally the tulips and daffodils come into full bloom.  Spring in Central Ohio is such a wonderful experience to savor.

Normal spring temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
March:  Hi: 51º, Low: 32º, Average: 42º
April:    Hi: 63º, Low: 41º, Average: 52º
May:     Hi: 73º, Low: 52º, Average: 62º

While these are the so called “normal” temperatures, you’ll certainly see some days warmer or cooler than these. I’ve experienced much warmer temperatures, even in the 70’s for April.  The Hi is what you’d see during the day and the low is more night time, as things tend to cool down quite a bit once the sun disappears.  This applies to any season in Central Ohio.

Summer in Columbus Ohio officially starts on June 20

However, warmer weather typically arrives in May.  Swimming pools open Memorial Day weekend and close on Labor Day in September.  June and September offer the ideal weather to me, because it’s less humid and comfortable temperatures so you don’t really need air conditioning. The really hot, humid weather tends to be in July and August and that’s when Isaac and I head to Alum Creek Beach to cool off (Yes we have a beach in Central Ohio). While July and August can experience temperatures into the 90’s, the normal temperatures are supposed to be lower.

Normal summer temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
June:      Hi: 82º, Low: 61º, Average: 71º
July:       HI: 85º, Low: 65º, Average 75º
August:  HI: 84º, Low: 64º, Average: 74º

Fall officially starts on September 22

Central Ohio’s fall colors typically peak in late October to early November.  The first freeze of the year is usually in Mid-October marking the end of local farmer’s markets.  Fall in Columbus Ohio is such a soothing, peaceful and comforting time of year.  The weather slowly starts cooling down as the beauty of the changing fall leaves explode with color.  The changing landscape offers an opportunity to slow down after the hustle and bustle of summer to reflect on the significance of life.

Of course, Ohio State Buckeye Fans look forward to Fall as the long awaited OSU football season kicks off.  GO BUCKS!!!  (PS - I’ve been trying to teach Buckeye, my African Grey Parrot, to say GO BUCKS, so far he’s loving the sound of hubba bubba Buckeye better.  Maybe someday he’ll get it.)

I’ve seen temperatures in the 70’s in October and 80’s in September, but here’s what the normal temperatures are supposed to be:

September:   Hi: 77º, Low: 56º, Average: 67º
October:       Hi: 66º, Low: 44º, Average: 55º
November:   Hi: 53º, Low: 35º, Average: 44º

Winter in Columbus Ohio officially starts on December 21

Who doesn’t enjoy the magical feeling of a white Christmas?  Yes we get snow in Columbus Ohio in the winter.  The funny thing is, it’s inconsistent enough that if we get more than say 4-6″ at a time, everything shuts down.  Schools are closed, the authorities issue a snow emergency and people forget they know how to drive.  Isaac just loves snow days . . . a chance to stay home and play in the snow all day with Berkeley, our Schnoodle and the neighbor kids.  Columbus is unlike Northern Ohio, where they get Lake effect snow throughout the winter - so they’re used to it.

Average annual snow fall in the Columbus Ohio area is around 28 inches.   Since our temperatures fluctuate a lot in the winter, when we get snow, it typically doesn’t stay on the ground too long.

Normal winter temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
December:  Hi: 41º, Low: 26º, Average: 34º
January:      Hi: 36º, Low: 20º, Average: 28º
February:    Hi: 40º, Low: 23º, Average: 32º

Natural Disasters in Columbus Ohio

I’ve had several people move to Columbus Ohio from Florida because they are tired of the hurricanes and storms. So they often ask what natural disasters occur in Columbus Ohio?  I’ve lived in the Columbus Ohio area since 1969 and I cannot remember there being a tornado that has caused any damage.  There have been tornadoes in other parts of Ohio and from what I understand they tend to hit more rural areas rather than the city.

Minor flooding has occurred in few isolated areas, but it’s not really a problem all over Central Ohio.  Blizzards are not common, but we have had two that I can remember.  I can remember the Columbus Blizzard of January, 1978 when I was a kid as being the worst.  I guess there was several inches of snow that fell in Columbus Ohio within 24 hours, but it was the blinding winds and below zero temperatures combined that turned this snow storm into a blizzard.  There were lots of power outages and people were stranded in their homes without heat.  I remember the Ohio National Guard rescued our family from the freezing cold and took us to a local recreation center to stay warm for a few days until power could be restored.

Columbus Ohio had another minor blizzard in March of 2008, which didn’t cause major power outages and only caused roads to be closed for a day or two. The Blizzard of March 2008 consisted of a 15.4 inch record snow fall, in a 24 hour period, recorded at Port Columbus Airport and about 20.4 inches of snow piled up altogether.  However, since it was March, it quickly warmed up after the storm and melted the snow.  So this was nothing like the Blizzard of 1978.  Snow storms of this magnitude are quite rare in Columbus Ohio.

Relocating to Columbus Ohio?

If you’re planning to move to the Columbus Ohio area, please CONTACT Petra at 614-895-0496, to receive a custom Columbus Ohio Relocation information package filled with extensive Central Ohio community information, Columbus Ohio Map with suburbs of Central Ohio, CD community tour and more.  As an experienced Columbus Ohio REALTOR®, Petra can make relocating to Columbus Ohio easier!

*Weather statistics have been compiled from various sources like accuweather and NOAA, to give you an idea of what Columbus Ohio weather is like.  Keep in mind, I do not guarantee the accuracy of this information and mother nature has a mind of her own that no one can totally predict.  I have shared this information to help give you an idea of what it’s like to live in Columbus Ohio and what weather to expect throughout the year.