As the weather gets colder, you have a lot to do to prepare your home for the season. Winter offers unique challenges for several aspects of housing, including your heating and plumbing systems. To protect your appliances and make your home more comfortable, follow these winterizing tips.

Preparing for the Cold

1. Improve Insulation

No matter how good your heating system is, it can’t help you if all your home’s heat is escaping. Take the time to locate and plug any drafts, and add insulation to your walls, roof, and/or windows.

2. Prepare Your Plumbing

In cold weather, exposed pipes can freeze and burst. Locate any vulnerable plumbing, including pipes and hoses in your yard and in unheated crawl spaces and basements. Protect these pipes by turning off their water supply if possible or by adding insulation.

3. Clean Chimneys

As the temperature drops, you’re going to be relying on your furnace or boiler system to heat your home. Make sure it’s ready for the task by cleaning out any chimneys and flues, making sure there are no blockages.

4. Schedule a Heating Inspection

Another crucial step for your heating system is to arrange a professional inspection. This will allow your HVAC technician to perform any necessary maintenance before the temperatures are at their lowest, minimizing the risk your heating system will break down.

5. Install Smoke Detectors

If you don’t already have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home, make sure to install them now. Relying on a furnace or stove for heat always comes with a risk of fire or other problems, so you want to take every precaution.

With these five steps, you can have your heating and plumbing systems ready for the long winter ahead. Start your preparations today so you’ll be ready for any weather.

Ronnie Ritchie Service Co in Waynesboro, VA, offers plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and general contracting services throughout the area. For over 60 years, this fully licensed and insured service has provided quality repairs, installation, and maintenance on projects large and small. To arrange a visit, call them today at (540) 942-1415 or send a message online.