Tips for Keeping Your Home Warm in Freezing Temperatures
It’s getting rather cold outside and keeping your home warm during the winter is imperative not only for your health and comfort, but for the integrity of your living space as well.
The following tips can help keep your pipes from freezing this winter:
- Keep your garage doors closed except for when entering and exiting.
- Open cabinet doors around sinks and faucets. This will allow warm air to circulate around them, which will keep them from freezing.
- Allow your drains to drip. If the weather outside drops below zero, allow your drains to run ever so slightly. This will keep water circulating through the pipes, which will reduce their chances of freezing.
- Make sure your furnace and thermostat are operating properly. The colder it gets, the harder they have to work to keep you warm. Faulty parts, like worn belts, can break under the added strain.
- Inspect your insulation. Make sure it’s not compacted, is of sufficient depth/R-value for your climate and that no bare spots have developed.
- Seal any leaks from windows and doors. In most cases, you can do this with some simple weather stripping or caulking. Just make sure you use the appropriate sealant for the surface you’re working with.
- Install a programmable thermostat with WiFi capability, such as the Nest. This will allow you to control your home’s temperature from any location. Thus, if the temperature drops while you’re away at work or on vacation, you can easily adjust the temperature to keep your home warm and comfortable.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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