1️⃣ SHOVEL THE SNOW OFF YOUR ROOF
Shoveling the snow off your roof can be so important to allow your furnace to breathe properly like it was designed to! We see many no-heats around this time of year due to air intake or exhaust pipes being plugged up with snow.
It can be especially important in trailer homes where exhaust outlets for the furnace are on the roof and the air intakes may be too.
2️⃣ MAKE SURE YOUR GARAGE DOOR CLOSES ALL THE WAY
Making sure your garage door closes may seem like a simple task, but every year, many homes freeze up and complete heating systems are destroyed because the garage door got left open during the cold weather.
3️⃣ DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR HEAT OR WATER MAIN
If you go traveling , you may think it'll help you to turn off your heat or water main while you're gone, but it can do more damage than good in the cold weather!
We get several calls about homes that are frozen because the main heat and water was turned off when the homeowner left town. We ALWAYS recommend that you have someone check on your home during these cold snaps if you're away.
4️⃣ CHECK YOUR HEATING FUEL
You always want to be sure you have plenty of heating fuel BEFORE a cold snap. Many customers have reported running out of fuel even if they have a "keep full" account with the fuel company. So, make sure to get on their list to get your fuel tank filled.
Bonus tip if you're on a keep full account, check your records for your last fill up.
5️⃣ DO NOT LOWER YOUR HEAT, KEEP IT CIRCULATING (boilers)
We don't recommend turning your heat down too much, as this will slow down circulation. If you're using a fireplace, keep the boiler circulating in all of the zones.
If one area in your home stops heating, DON'T WAIT TO CALL! It won't take long for the water to freeze if it begins to slow down or stop.
6️⃣ KNOW WHERE YOUR MAIN WATER SHUT OFF VALVE IS
Be prepared! We have placed thousands of sticker tags on main shut off valves over the years. It's a sure way you won't be able to miss which valve to turn during an emergency.
If you are unsure of where yours might be, call for help in locating it before you may need it!
7️⃣ KEEP YOUR WATER DRIPPING
If your home is prone to freezing, make sure to keep the hot and cold water dripping , but be cautious and keep an eye on it! We have seen many drain lines freeze and the water continues to drip/flow, causing massive flood damage.
8️⃣ CLOSE VENTS UNDER YOUR HOME
Are there uninsulated areas under your home? It's cold under there and you want to keep it as warm as possible for all your plumbing and heating systems to continue working properly!!
By keeping everything buttoned up and out of the wind and cold as much as possible, you have a better chance to protect your pipes.