When winter approaches, homeowners must do a few things to prepare their homes for the cold. Most of the required tasks revolve around your plumbing and heating systems. Ignoring the former could lead to frozen pipes and catastrophic water damage. Ignoring the latter might leave you and your family shivering without heat on a cold night. Here are some tips on preparing your home so you avoid those outcomes.
How to Winterize Your Home’s Plumbing
When temperatures drop below freezing, your home’s plumbing becomes vulnerable to icing. Frozen pipes can burst, causing significant water damage to your home. Here’s what to do to prevent that.
Turn Off and Insulate Hose Bibs
The hose bibs on your home’s exterior are its most vulnerable plumbing components. You can easily protect them from the cold, however. First, remove any attached garden hoses and store them somewhere safe for the winter. Then, find the indoor shutoff valves for your hose bibs. They should be within a few feet of each hose bib, just past where the pipes enter your home. Turn off those valves, and then open your hose bibs to let the remaining water drain. Then, you can close the bibs and prepare for your next step.
Head to your nearest hardware or home improvement store and look for insulated hose bib covers. They’ll look like small foam boxes with a plastic strap protruding from the center. You’ll need one for each hose bib that needs insulating. To install one, slip the strap loop over your hose bib, avoiding the valve stem. Then, pull the strap from the outside to move the cover until it’s firmly against the wall. Use the included clip to secure the cover in its position.
Insulate Vulnerable Pipes
Your next task is to examine any pipes in your home running through unheated spaces. That includes basements, crawl spaces, and attics if your home has them. If the pipes you find already have insulation, check the insulation’s condition. It doesn’t take much for cold air to affect an exposed section of pipe. If you see any damage, purchase similar insulation and repair it.
If you find uninsulated pipes, you should insulate them. The simplest way to do it is to purchase foam sleeve insulation. It comes with a precut seam with an adhesive strip. To use it, cut an appropriate length and slip it over the pipe you’re working with. Then, remove the adhesive strip’s paper backing and press the seam firmly together. Repeat the process until all your vulnerable pipes have appropriate insulation.
Flush Your Water Heater
Although water heaters can fail at any time, winter is the most likely season for problems. It’s when your water heater must work hardest because your incoming water temperature is lowest. If you have a storage-tank water heater, performing a complete flush before winter is a good idea. To do it, you’ll need a garden hose and thick gloves. Begin by turning off your water heater. Then, carefully attach your garden hose to the outlet near the tank’s bottom. Then, turn off the heater’s incoming water supply. Run the end of the hose to a nearby drain and then open the outlet’s valve.
Draining all the water in your storage tank will take a while. The average home’s water heater may need up to 30 minutes to empty. Once that happens, turn the heater’s incoming water supply back on. That will restart the flow into the drain. Wait about 10 minutes as the water flushes sediment from the tank’s bottom. Then, turn off the lower outlet and disconnect your garden hose. Afterward, you can turn the heater back on to let it return to work. Remember though, that if you aren’t 100% sure about each step, call an expert plumber to help.
Preparing Your Heating System for Winter
Every winter, you depend on your home’s heating season to keep your home comfortable. Your heating system needs pre-season maintenance for maximum performance, efficiency, and reliability. Here’s what to do.
Change Your HVAC Air Filter
If you have a forced-air heating system, it has a disposable air filter that needs periodic replacement. Most filters need replacement after about three months of use. Putting in a new one before the heating season starts should get you through the winter. Make sure to purchase a filter with the exact dimensions and MERV rating as the one it’s replacing. If you’d like to improve your home’s air quality, you can upgrade to a filter with a higher MERV rating. However, don’t exceed a MERV rating of 13 without consulting an HVAC expert first. Your heating system may suffer airflow issues if you do. While replacing the filter, use a vacuum with a wand attachment to remove any dirt around the filter housing.
Check Your Thermostat
Most thermostats have a manual setting that switches them between heating and cooling modes. Before winter arrives, switch your thermostat into heating mode. If yours is a battery-operated thermostat, consider replacing its batteries. You wouldn’t want to get stuck without heat on a frigid night because your thermostat died. It’s also a good idea to place a thermometer near your thermostat to see if it needs calibration. If the thermostat isn’t reading the proper room temperature, follow its manufacturer’s instructions to calibrate it.
Test Your Heating System
Before the temperature starts dropping, it’s a good idea to switch your heating system on to see that it works. If you have a gas furnace, inspect its burner flame once it comes on. If it’s any color other than blue, your burners need cleaning. Also, take note of any odd odors coming from your furnace. A slight burning smell when your furnace first turns on is normal. Your furnace may need repair if it lasts longer than a few minutes.
Schedule a Maintenance Appointment
Your home’s heating system needs regular professional maintenance to keep working well. Scheduling an annual appointment before each heating system is a smart move. The earlier you do it, the better. Scheduling your appointment well before the heating season gives you time for repairs if necessary. During a maintenance visit, an HVAC technician will inspect your furnace’s internal components. They’ll tighten all electrical connections and lubricate all moving parts. Also, they’ll look for any signs of unusual wear and tear and report their findings to you.
Your Local HVAC and Plumbing Experts
Since opening in 2006, All Klear has offered quality heating services as well as serving all your local cooling, plumbing, and electrical needs in Springfield, MO. We also provide indoor air quality services. Our expert HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians have the latest training and years of experience. We’re a RUUD Pro Partner and a Carrier and Amana dealer. That guarantees you’ll only get quality HVAC systems from us. We can even provide financing on approved credit to help you pay for larger home projects. We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating, signifying our commitment to excellence. So, if you need help preparing your plumbing and heating systems for winter in Springfield, call All Klear today!
