Are you ready? Is your home ready? We’re talking about getting ready for winter, because you know it’s going to be cold and that can be hard on you and your home. Merts Heating & Air Conditioning has some survival tips when it comes to winter home safety.
Let’s start with the outside of your house. Here’s a partial checklist of things you should do to protect your home against winter weather:
- Clean your gutters
- Disconnect and drain any outdoor hoses
- Shut off water to outside spigots
- Caulk or weather-strip windows and doors as needed
- Insulate any exposed water pipes in a crawl space
Winter weather preparation inside the house will not only keep you comfortable, but safe as well:
- If you have a fireplace, the chimney or flue needs to be inspected every year.
- Make sure your home has properly installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them monthly. The batteries should be changed twice a year.
- Call Merts to schedule routine maintenance on your furnace or boiler. It’s the best way to assure efficient operation and prevent future problems.
Frozen water pipes that burst can cause serious water damage in your home. Make sure your pipes are winter-ready. When the cold weather hits, it’s a good idea open the cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows heated air to circulate around the pipes. This is especially important if the pipes are close to an exterior wall. Another winter weather home tip is to leave faucets running at a trickle with a mix of hot and cold water. The moving water prevents the pipes from freezing.
On a more personal level, be sure to protect yourself because winters safety can be lifesaving. Always dress for the weather and educate yourself about the warning signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
For any heating system problems you encounter, Merts Heating and Cooling is here to help. Don’t hesitate to call and be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great information like this.