October 15, 2024

Getting Your Home Ready for Winter

While fall is here, winter is right around the corner, so you’ll want to start getting your home ready for winter by paying extra focus to your HVAC and plumbing systems to ensure that they’re ready for the frigid months.

At Tindall & Ranson, we’re here to shed some light on the best ways that you can prepare your home for winter so you can roll through the snowy season free of any issues to your plumbing or HVAC systems.

Prepare for Your Heater to Run

While you’ve been running your AC all summer to stave off the sweltering heat, it’s time to make the switch to heat. Before turning the thermostat up, there’s a few items that you’ll want to take care of to ensure that your heating is operating efficiently and effectively.

• Swap out your air filters for better flow of air.
• Clean and cover outdoor unit.
• Ensure vents are cleared and not blocked.
• Schedule an HVAC tune up to make sure that your heater is ready to run for the long term.

Check Your Thermostat

Since you use your thermostat to change the temperature of your home, you’ll want to make sure that it’s operating correctly. You’ll want to test it to make sure that it’s following your commands. If you raise the temperature, and you don’t hear the heater kick on, the thermostat may need to be recalibrated.

Insulate Your Pipes

You may need help from a plumbing expert with insulating your pipes, but it’s important task to add to your winter checklist. Insulating the pipes can help you avoid the pipes from freezing, which can cause them to burst once the temperature rises. Whether you have exterior plumbing, a pool house, or a detached garage with a sink, it’s important to either insulated these pipes or shut off the water to prevent a burst.

Take Care of Exterior Fixtures

As the weather turns cool, it’s safe to say that you won’t need to water the grass or garden anymore. It’s time to gather your hoses and wind them up and store them for the winter. You’ll want to make sure that all of the water is out of the hoses to prevent any freezing damage from happening.

Check for Leaks or Plumbing Issues

You don’t want to have a severe plumbing issue occur in the dead of winter, so it’s best to schedule an inspection of your systems before the cold sets in. An expert plumber can inspect your pipes and drains for any signs of wear and provide preventative maintenance to help you navigate winter with fully functioning plumbing.

Schedule Service or Preventative Maintenance with Tindall & Ranson

While the weather is still agreeable, it’s a good time to take stock of your heating and plumbing systems to make sure that they’re operating efficiently so that you can have them working for you this winter. Whether you’re in need of an inspection, service, or much-needed maintenance, you can contact us at Tindall & Ranson!