Preparing Your Home for the Winter Months

Winter Tips for the Safety of Your Home & Tenants

Winter is quickly approaching, and things get busy around the holiday season. Preparing your home for the drop in temperatures can help you stay warm, prevent disruption, and maintain your home for years to come. We have compiled a short list of things you can do to ease your mind, reduce risk, and keep you and your holiday guests comfortable all winter long.

 Detach Your Garden Hose

Did you know that leaving a hose attached to the spigot of your home puts you at risk? This isn’t something most of us would think about, but a hose attached to a spigot may contain trapped water. This trapped water can freeze, traveling up into the spigot, disrupting your pipes and causing them to burst. It is best to disconnect your hose from home before the temperatures drop. You may even choose to go the extra mile and store your hose in warm & dry conditions, expanding its lifespan, plus you’ll be ready to reattach it for your blooming flowers come Spring.

Reverse Fan Blades

As temperatures drop, changing the direction of your fans can keep your home warmer, reducing your heating costs. Fans should be switched to clockwise in the winter and counterclockwise in the summer. Fans spinning clockwise will push the warmer air down from the ceiling, allowing for better temperature regulation throughout your home. Don’t forget to switch them back to counterclockwise after the winter months.

Drip Faucets & Open Cabinets

When temperatures drop to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below pipes begin to freeze and may even burst. To prevent pipes from freezing, it is always a good idea to open cabinets to where your plumbing is located (especially on pipes who share an outer wall of the home). Doing this allows the heat in and keeps the pipes warm. Turn the water on to a slow drip to keep the water moving through the pipes, this will prevent them from freezing or bursting. Regularly flushing toilets is also recommended.

Change Air Filters

Air filters play a large role in your HVAC efficiency. Filters should be changed at least every 3 months and more frequently if pets are in the home. Keeping your air filter clean will not only improve your air quality but will ensure that your homes heater is running efficiently, reducing utility costs and keeping you warm for the winter months ahead.

Test your Heater & Set Thermostat

For some, the heater may not have been turned on in the last few months and your AC may still be running. Take the time to make sure that your heater is running efficiently by turning it on and running a test. If your heater is not outputting heat, it is best to submit a work order and get it fixed now before temperatures drop. Heaters should be set to 60 degrees or higher during low temperatures. As a reminder, thermostat temperatures should only be adjusted by 9 degrees at a time. This prevents your AC unit from overcooling & freezing.