Experts predict the upcoming winter will be one of the coldest on record. If you own a home, now is the time to start preparing for the frigid weather ahead. Ignoring the need for certain maintenance procedures can leave your home vulnerable. Dealing with heating unit issues or plumbing problems can have you frantically looking for HVAC technicians or plumbers for assistance in the middle of a deep freeze.
Instead of dealing with significant damage caused by cold winter weather, you need to ensure you maintain the important parts of your home to prevent emergencies. Here are some great home winter maintenance tips that can help you avoid serious repair issues.
Have Your Heating Unit Maintained By Professionals
A lot of energy is wasted in the winter months because of poorly maintained heating units (source: https://www.paultheplumbernh.com/hampstead-plumbing-heating-cooling/).
If your heating unit is inefficient or damaged in any way, you will struggle to keep the inside of your home warm. Instead of paying higher energy bills, work with professionals to get your heating unit properly maintained to avoid energy waste.
An experienced HVAC technician will be able to inspect every part of your heating system to ensure it is ready for cold weather. One of the most important parts of your heating system is the furnace. As time goes by, the furnace will get dirty and inefficient, which is why having it cleaned by an experienced HVAC technician is a wise move. By investing in this maintenance, you can extend the life of your heating unit.
Prepare Your Plumbing System for Winter
Frozen plumbing pipes are one of the most common repair issues faced by homeowners in winter. If you have outdoor plumbing pipes, then you need to protect them to avoid the aggravation of dealing with frozen or burst pipes. The first thing you need to do to prepare this part of your home for cold weather is to unhook your hoses from your outdoor spigots. If the hoses are left in place with water in them, they will freeze and back up the pipes that feed them.
You also need to think about investing in heating strips for your outdoor pipes. These strips are designed to detect freezing temperatures and heat the pipes, preventing the water inside from freezing. Working with an experienced plumber is a great way to figure out what steps you need to take to protect your pipes this winter.
Fix Drafts In Your Home
If you want to keep the inside of your home warm and toasty this winter, then you need to realize the importance of finding and fixing drafts. A home with drafts will waste a lot of energy. All of the warm air produced by your heating unit will escape through these drafts, which means it will have to work harder to keep the inside of your residence warm. Instead of wearing out your unit prematurely, it is simple to fix the drafts in your home.
In most cases, these drafts will occur around windows and doors. With a tube of caulk, you can seal up these areas. If the caulk doesn’t fix your drafts, then you may have to replace the doors or windows in question. With the addition of energy-efficient windows, you can easily save money on your electricity bills this winter.
Now that you know more about how to get your home ready for winter, it is time to call in professionals for help to keep your home toasty warm before the cold sets in this winter.