5 Ways to Winterize Your Home

Hoses, Outside Spigots, & Sprinkler Systems

• Disconnect garden hoses from exterior faucets to keep water from freezing in the hose and rupturing the faucet.
• If your exterior faucets have cut-off valves, close them and drain the faucets. If they don’t, insulate them with foam faucet covers.
• Shut off your sprinkler system, if you have one. Use an air compressor to force water out of the pipes to prevent freezing.

Smoke Detectors & CO Monitors

• Change the batteries in existing smoke detectors and CO monitors.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near the furnace or water heater, or both.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly

Furnace & HVAC

• Have your furnace serviced to make sure it is working properly and safely.
• Change your furnace filters. Dirty filters makes your furnace work harder. In most homes, filters should be changed monthly in the heating season.

Gutters & Downspouts

• Clean rain gutters and downspouts after the leaves have fallen. Leaves and other debris clog gutters, which can create an ice dam on the roof.
• Check for and repair any loose gutters.
• If you hate climbing a ladder, or don’t want to deal with the yucky mess that’s in your gutters, give us a call and we can come out and do it for you.

Plumbing

• Inspect your plumbing for leaking or uninsulated pipes.
• Cover your water heater with an insulating blanket.
• Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.