Why does the heat pump always wait until it’s -12 degrees outside to die on you? It’s not just your fantastic luck. The harsh conditions of winter weather can be tough on your home. Keeping up with routine maintenance can ensure you don’t wind up with a home repair emergency on your hands in the middle of a cold snap. Here are some suggestions to keep your house running smoothly.
- Change your furnace filters – It’s not an exciting job, but if you want heat to flow freely throughout your home, you want to put it at the top of your winter to-do list. Clogged filters can cost you extra money on your heat bill each month and over-tax your system causing it to break.
- Winterize your water lines and air conditioning unit – Avoid frozen pipes by draining any hoses and air conditioner pipes. Make sure there isn’t water pooled in your air conditioner. Turn off water to all pipes that connect to the outside of your house.
- Seal up your home to avoid drafts – If you have leaky doors or windows, you might as well open them up and throw cash out into the yard. Drafts cost you a lot of additional money in energy bills and your heat is just rising up into the atmosphere. A draft can give your thermostat a false reading, causing your heat to run more than it needs to. Escaping warmth can also cause you to crank up the temperature, costing you more to heat your home. Air leaks are simple to fix. You can winterize your windows with an inexpensive kit from any home improvement store.
- Install energy efficient windows and doors – If you have a little more money to invest, energy efficient windows and doors can save you money on your heating bill and your taxes. There are federal tax credits available for upgrading to energy efficient windows and doors.
- Tune up your heater – Preempt an emergency visit from your friendly HVAC tech by being proactive. Get your heater a tune up before you’re in the midst of the coldest months. Many HVAC companies offer free annual system checks if you schedule early in the season, before they get overwhelmed with emergency repair calls.
- Clear out dead tree limbs – During winter storms and harsh winds, dead tree limbs falling can cause major damage to your home and threaten your safety. Tree branches that are obviously dead, dangling or just overhanging your home or vehicle should be trimmed prior to the harsh winter weather to avoid an accident later in the season.
- Get your chimney cleaned – If you’re lucky enough to have a cozy fireplace to enjoy, make sure that it’s safe for your family by having it cleaned regularly. A clogged chimney is a major hazard to your health and safety. Animals also enjoy building their homes in chimneys, so you want to make sure there are no additional occupants in your chimney before lighting that first fire of the year.
Keeping your home well-maintained during the winter will not only keep you warm and cozy, you will protect your investment so that when the time is right to sell, you’re ready. If you’re in the market to sell your home (or purchase a new one), contact us today!
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