Tip #1: Keep your outside pipes covered and protected.
Water expands as it freezes, so if the water inside your pipes begin to freeze, so will your pipes. Over time, this can cause significant damage to your pipes, sometimes even causing them to crack and burst. To avoid this, drain water from your outdoor faucets or sprinkling systems to keep pipes from freezing and be sure to disconnect your hoses. Then, cover outdoor faucets with foam insulators. If you have pipes that run through other unheated areas of your home like the garage or basement, be sure to protect them with some sort of insulation as well.
Now is the time to schedule an annual maintenance appointment! There’s nothing worse than turning on your heat when you need it and having it not work properly! Heating maintenance appointments are beneficial because our experienced and knowledgeable team will clean the filters, while also ensuring that the entire inside components are secure and working properly. If there are any parts that look like they need to be replaced, we will let you know and get everything ready to go so you’re ready for the cold weather.
Tip #3: Install a programmable thermostat.
Programmable thermostats are amazing! They not only program your home’s temperature so it’s exactly how you want it, but you can save money too. Programming it to be cooler at night or when you’re not home can help reduce your utility bill and you can program it to be warmer for when you get back home or on those cold fall and winter mornings.
Tip #4: Clean out the gutters.
Clogged gutters can cause problems! Not only is it messy, but as we head into the icy season, it’s important to make sure that the gutters are clear. Ice dams can form when heat escapes through the roof and melts ice that has settled on the top. Clogged gutters and other downspouts are the leading cause of ice dams and in order for ice to melt and drain properly, the gutters need to be clear to keep the water flowing.
Tip #5: Seal your windows and doors.
A great heating system can be a great way to stay warm during those cold days and nights, but if you have drafty windows and doors, you’ll be wasting that precious warm air that’s inside. Start by locking the windows and doors tightly and sealing any gaps with quality weather stripping. If you have older windows and doors, consider replacing them for new, energy efficient ones that can add an extra level of insulation to your home.
If you need to schedule a maintenance appointment for your furnace or you want to talk to us about getting a new heating system replaced before winter, we can help! Contact our experienced, no-pressure sales team at Specialty Heating and Cooling today!
Contact Specialty Heating & Cooling LLC today!
