Common Cold Weather Mistakes

Common Cold Weather MistakesSo, how’s winter indoor comfort treating you thus far?  No major complaints?  Glad to hear it.

Of course, if you’re one of those people actually looking for something to complain about, then our advice is to just back, hibernate, and let winter roll by you.  Or, you can be just a tiny bit proactive head off all kinds of potential trouble at the pass.

Here’s how:

Prevent Ice Dams

Are you impressed when you see major icicles hanging off other peoples’ roofs?  Don’t be, because all they’re telling you is that someone forgot to clear their gutters.  Problem number one is that the weight of the icicles is enough to rip the gutters away from the house.  But there are worse potential problems to guard against, like melting snow and ice getting inside your attic leaving all kinds of repair issues for you to deal with come spring.  How to prevent all that?  Start by checking that your attic is properly insulated. If it isn’t and you can’t re-insulate right now, add heated gutter cables to the areas that are prone to ice damns as a temporarily fix.

Winter-Proof Your Plumbing

What does water do when it freezes?  Right, it expands.  Just like it does in a tray of ice cubes.  So, if you want to prevent frozen and burst water pipes, take the time now to insulate any pipes located in un-heated areas of your home like your garage, basement, or a crawl space. If you haven’t done so already, you should also shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets.   

Keep Warm Air in and Cold Air Out

A cracked window sill here, a loose outlet cover there – all the little cracks and gaps in your home can add up to cold nights and sky-high heating bills. And yet, it’s nothing that the right amount of caulking, weather-stripping, socket and outlet insulation, and other such measures can’t remedy.   

Fireplace Inspection

If you’re reading this blog by the light and comfort provided by your fireplace, you’re looking at another potential winter-time problem.  Over time, creosote builds up inside your fireplace and chimney and eventually becomes a fire hazard.  Has it been more than a year since your last fireplace cleaning?  If so, it’s time to schedule one before this winter is over.  

Heating System Inspection

Annual heating system preventative maintenance not only helps keep your system in top working order, it enables us to detect small problems before they become bigger and costlier repairs.

What’s more, a well-maintained heating system further helps reduce your monthly utility costs while improving your family’s indoor comfort.  Contact Air Professionals today to schedule preventative maintenance for your system and, just like that, you’ll have yet another bit of winter preparedness covered.

 

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