Preparing your home for the cold weather
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – It’s important to make sure that your home is prepared for the frigid weather.
We talked with experts on how to make sure your plumbing and furnace can withstand the drop in temperatures.
The biggest tip exports give: don’t wait.
“Try to think about these sorts of things before the last minute,” said Ben Morris, an HVAC technician with Clear Creek Heat & Air.
Clear Creek Heat & Air gives simple tips one can do to prepare ahead of time.
“The number one that’s something simple that any homeowner can do is make sure your filters are clean and in good breathable condition for your unit. Another thing I would say is if you have a heat pump unit and you see freezing cold coming, go ahead and take on your thermostat and run it from heat over to emergency heat and that’ll help you so that you’re able to have consistent heat through the freezing cold weather, that’s a good tip. If you have a heating pump too, taking a water hose to it on the outside just to wash it because it acts as your evaporator cool when it’s running in heat pump mode, so it can have problems getting airflow through it,” said Morris.
Morris says if you get in a pinch, turn off and on your breaker panel unit on both your outdoor and indoor units.
After speaking with Shannon Stewart, the owner of SDS Plumbing, he recommends these tips:
Open your cabinet doors underneath your sink to allow warm air inKnow where your water shut-off valve is (in case there is a freeze and your pipes burst, you can turn it off so there is no damage to your property)Keep your pipes insulated and cover your pipe valves and jointsIf you have a mobile home, make sure that the skirting is good to prevent the airflow from freezing the pipes
Stewart also recommends having a steady water flow out of your faucet that is connected to an exterior wall.
“Make sure it’s a small trickle coming out of there, a nice steady stream. Not full blast or anything like that, but more than just a little drip because a little drip will probably freeze,” said Stewart.
Stuart Marrs, the PIO for the College Station Fire Department, recommends having an updated or modern space heater.
“Now’s the time to go out and modernize your space heaters and make sure you have modern, safe space heaters,” said Marrs.
Marrs says to be cautious if you are going to use your fireplace.
“Be ready to use your fireplace if your power goes out and know how to do that. Safely make sure you open the flue and know how the flue works. Make sure you know how to build the fire safely and keep it contained. Have a screen so that none of the sparks fly out or fingers get poked in. And be sure to dispose of your ashes properly– let them completely cool in a metal container before you throw them out or throw them in the bin,” said Marrs.
