Preparing Your Home for a Winter Vacation
While preparing your home for a winter vacation is simple, it is a bit more involved than locking up for summer. Top concerns revolve around energy conservation and the fact that temperatures can drop overnight, causing many homeowners to worry about water damage due to frozen pipes. There are a few things you can do before you leave to help you take your mind off of your home and allow you to enjoy your vacation.
- Unplug any electrical equipment or appliances that do not need to be on. Electonics still use power when plugged in, even when turned off.
- Close dampers and glass doors on fireplaces.
- Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate.
- Set your thermostat to a lower temperature but check the manufacturer’s manual for your equipment. While some sources may state that you can lower the temperature to 50 degrees, most recommend no lower than 60 degrees because you want to ensure that the pipes in the coldest spots of your home don’t freeze. You might also consider installing a low temperature sensor in the the basement which would alert you (or a neighbor) when the temperature drops below a set point.
- Turn down your water heater. You can use the pilot or vacation settings for gas but if it is electric, you can turn it off at the breaker box.
- Disconnect and drain hoses outside your home, and turn off and drain the outside faucets.
In addition to this simple to-do list, make sure to get preventative maintenance performed on your HVAC system and that all equipment is functioning properly.
Anytime Heating & Cooling serves metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. Anytime HVAC service technicians are skilled in A/C repair and service; heating and cooling system maintenance; and the installation of new air conditioning units. The experts at Anytime Heating & Cooling are ready to help you anytime–offering 24/7 emergency service, scheduled appointments, and free estimates for new A/C systems. Call today (770) 504-5881 or visit us on the web at www.www.anytimehvac.com.