With winter fast approaching it’s time to start preparing. A little bit of your time can help prevent frozen pipes, lower energy costs and keep your apartment or home warm throughout the winter’
When extreme temperatures hit:
- When you are away from home remember to keep your thermostat set between 55-60 degrees to avoid pipes from freezing.
- When temps drop below zero leave the faucet (both cold and hot) running at a slow drip to keep water running through the pipes.
Below are a few interior tips you can do very quickly:
- Check doors for drafts. A cheap way to prevent door drafts is by using a draft guard, or other product, that slips under your door threshold.
- Your next step should be to check the inside windows edges for a draft. Although it may not be aesthetically pleasing a window insulation kit will help prevent window drafts.
- Another great way to reduce your energy bill is by using a programmable thermostat to reduce the heat while you are away. Just remember, you should not shut off the heat completely since this can lead to frozen pipes and other problems.
- Contact an HVAC technician to service your furnace before the winter season starts to make sure the unit is running effectively and efficiently. Change your furnace filter on a regular basis.
Below are a few exterior tips you can do very quickly:
- Make sure any exterior water lines are shut off and drained as soon as the weather starts to dip below freezing. Forgetting to do this can cause the water insides the pipes to freeze and potentially crack the pipe.
- Do a quick check of the exterior windows and caulk around any gaps between the siding and frame.
- It is also important to check your gutters and clear them of any debris. Making sure your gutters are clear will help any melt water run off before freezing and creating ice dams.
- Another way to help prevent ice dams is to make sure that your attic is properly insulated. Not only will you lose heat if the attic is not insulated, but that heat can melt the snow on your roof which can then run off and freeze leading to the formation of ice dams.
These are only a few steps you can take to help prepare for another winter. Being proactive now will help save you time, money, and future headaches.
