5 Signs Your Fence Didn't Survive Winter
Most fence damage from winter is hidden until it fails. Here's what to look for on your fence walk — and what you'll need to fix it.
Leaning or Snapped Posts
Frost heave pushes posts upward and sideways through repeated freeze-thaw cycles. A leaning post stresses every wire attached to it.
Broken Electric Fence Conductors
Ice and falling branches break conductors and crack insulators. One break means zero voltage across the entire downstream run.
Vegetation Shorting Your Line
Overgrown brush and fallen limbs touching your wire silently drain voltage all season. You can't always see it — but your tester will.
Lost Wire Tension
Snow load and frost heave stretch wire and pull staples loose. Woven wire that sags to the ground and high-tensile that's lost its spring won't stop determined livestock.
Post Washout & Soil Erosion
Snowmelt erodes soil around post bases. A post that looks solid above ground may be sitting in a cavity — and will fail under pressure.
5 Signs Your Fence Didn't Survive Winter
Most fence damage from winter is hidden until it fails. Here's what to look for on your fence walk — and what you'll need to fix it.
Leaning or Snapped Posts
Frost heave pushes posts upward and sideways through repeated freeze-thaw cycles. A leaning post stresses every wire attached to it.
Broken Electric Fence Conductors
Ice and falling branches break conductors and crack insulators. One break means zero voltage across the entire downstream run.
Vegetation Shorting Your Line
Overgrown brush and fallen limbs touching your wire silently drain voltage all season. You can't always see it — but your tester will.
Lost Wire Tension
Snow load and frost heave stretch wire and pull staples loose. Woven wire that sags to the ground and high-tensile that's lost its spring won't stop determined livestock.
Post Washout & Soil Erosion
Snowmelt erodes soil around post bases. A post that looks solid above ground may be sitting in a cavity — and will fail under pressure.