Winter weather in Pennsylvania can wreak havoc on your home if you don’t take the necessary steps to protect it. Frozen and burst pipes, leaks, insufficient heat, inefficient HVAC systems, and more can be solved by following these HVAC Havertown PA best practices for winter from Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C.
Best Practices for Winter HVAC: Havertown PA
Keeping your home safe from the expensive damage that can be caused by harsh winter weather should be a priority of all homeowners. It can be challenging to prevent winter hazards from affecting your home, but it can be done with a little bit of work on your end and help from an experienced plumber and HVAC technician. Here are the most important tips to follow this winter when preparing your home for the deep freeze:
- Give the heater a tuneup: you should have the heater serviced every year, ideally before temperatures drop dramatically. A technician can check for issues, replace broken parts, and give the heater a thorough cleaning to remove all debris that can affect how it runs.
- Mind the thermostat: one tip for high efficiency heating is to turn the heat down a little bit when no one is home. An experienced technician can install a programmable or wireless thermostat for as little as $50 for the unit itself. This may help you save up to $200 per year.
- Turn off outside spigots: turn the water flow off for any outside spigots. This is usually done in the basement or the garage. Then, open the valve of the spigot outside to let any remaining water drain so it does not freeze in the pipes.
- Leave cabinet doors open: when the temperatures are going to plummet, leave cabinet doors open so heat can reach the pipes under your sinks. This can help prevent indoor pipes from freezing.
- Reinforce windows and doors: insulate any cracks around windows with caulk, and insulate the windows themselves with insulation film. Better insulation can help your heater work more efficiently.
- Insulate your pipes: if you have an unfinished basement and are worried about pipes freezing, you can insulate them. This can be done with pipe-wrap insulation, which typically comes in foam, bubble-film wrap, or foam-and-foil wrap.
Broken or Frozen Pipes? Call Us for Emergency Repair in Havertown
Has a pipe frozen in your home? Did a pipe burst when the temperatures went back above freezing? The damage from frozen pipes can be very expensive and hard to repair, so it’s time to call an experienced plumber from Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C. Call the office at 215-584-2098 to schedule an appointment for repairs.