Now that the cooler weather is starting to take over, many homeowners are wondering what needs to be done in order to prepare their houses for the winter season. But where to begin? What’s the best way to make sure that you’re prepared just in case an emergency strikes? Is “too much preparation” a thing?
Well, if you live somewhere like Texas, you probably won’t have to be too concerned about how well your heating system will function in sub-freezing temperatures. But you don’t have to live in the Alaskan tundra to experience inclement winter weather emergencies; if you know that your region has the possibility of getting snowy and cold at all, you’ll want to start preparing:
- It’s a good idea to keep extra supplies on hand just in case there’s a power outage, or in case your heater suddenly breaks down and you can’t get in touch with any HVAC repair services. Things like extra blankets, space heaters, and small battery-powered devices (and extra batteries too, of course) are all good to have in stock.
- If you live in a region where the temperature often goes below freezing, you probably already know how important it is to weatherize your whole home. Water lines that haven’t been insulated are particularly vulnerable to freezing up, so it’s a good idea to have a professional home repair expert do that for you (and maybe keep some extra water jugs on hand, just in case). Don’t forget to insulate the rest of your home too; cold air can easily come through tiny cracks in window panes or under doors, and this can end up costing you big-time in heating bills! Any home repair store should have a variety of insulation materials, and commercial HVAC repair services will be able to handle this task as well.
- Finally, it’s always a good idea to have your heating and air conditioning parts inspected by an industry expert, especially if your HVAC unit is more than 10 years old, or if you haven’t had it inspected recently. Small duct cracks can cost you a lot if you have your HVAC system running 24/7, and a heating system that has fallen into disrepair is also more likely to cause build-up of harmful chemicals in your home (like carbon monoxide). You don’t need to have a broken heating unit to call in an HVAC repair service for some professional advice; these services often do check-ups before the winter weather really hits, just to make sure that their customers will be safe throughout the season.
You may have started seeing articles back in August that advised you to start preparing your HVAC system for winter, but it definitely isn’t too late to get started on this now! The more prepared you are for any winter weather emergency, the more comfortable you’ll feel in your home. More research here.