Posting Date: January 23, 2018
Posted by: Tom Mosley, Branch Manager of Dallas, TX
Planning a winter escape? Great idea! Just don’t forget to do the little things at home so you don’t come home to any unpleasant surprises.
Here are six things you should do before going on a winter vacation.
- Reset your thermostat. Never turn your heat completely off if you live in an area where temperatures can dip below freezing! Keep your thermostat on its heat setting, adjusted to about 55 degrees or so to prevent frozen pipes.
- Open cabinet doors under your sink. This will enable heated air from your home to reach non-insulated pipes.
- Unplug appliances. Winter weather can mean power outages – and restoring power after an outage can produce a surge that can fry electronics and even cause a fire. Unplug your appliances and you’ll avoid both problems. As a bonus, you’ll also cut power usage by “vampire” appliances – those that draw current even when they’re turned off.
- Close your fireplace or wood stove flue. You wouldn’t leave a window open in winter, would you? Then make sure your flue is closed, too – it will prevent heat loss and keep snow, rain or animals from getting into your home.
- Close / lock windows and doors. Check all locks, close all shutters, and install storm windows if you have them.
- Put away or secure outdoor furniture. Winter weather can kick up suddenly and cause damage quickly. Make sure your outdoor furniture is stored or secured properly.
Enjoy a worry-free vacation – contact us today if you need HVAC service before you go!