When disaster strikes, it always seems to happen when you least expect it. During the winter, your home is more susceptible to damage from the elements, but you can take steps to prevent this from happening.
Although it might take some effort, it’s much more preferable and less costly than repairing your home after an accident. With that in mind, here are three top tips on how to winterize your home.
Check Out Your HVAC System
For your home to be warm enough to get through the cold season, you need to make sure that a professional can service your HVAC system before it gets too late. You should do this at least once per year so that residue doesn’t build up in your furnace, chimney, and boiler. Also, replacing your air filter is one of the best ways to prepare your HVAC system for cold weather.
Changing the air filter prevents dirt and dust from clogging, which causes your HVAC system to work harder to heat your home. This can also damage your HVAC system and cause a fire if things get out of hand, so scheduling a professional inspection and changing the filter are essential tasks for proper maintenance.
Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing
If you don’t insulate your pipes, they could freeze, later causing them to burst and flood your home. When the temperature starts dropping significantly, run water from each of your taps drop by drop to prevent them from freezing.
Also, you can keep the cabinets under your sink open to allow the heat from your home to warm your pipes. Setting your thermostat at a decent temperature will keep you and your pipes warm enough to survive the winter.
Put Away Your Hose
You must drain and put away any remaining garden hoses in your backyard to protect your pipes from freezing. These hoses draw water that can freeze if left unabated, damaging your hose, pipes, and home. You can prevent this from occurring by shutting the valve off and insulating the hose faucet with a Styrofoam faucet cover.
Overall, following the right tips will prevent major headaches down the road. Now that you know three top tips on how to winterize your home, you can rest easy and enjoy the holiday season.
