Weather forecasters keep telling us that winter is just around the corner. With the past week seeing more than one day in the 30’s, accompanied by sleet and snow flurries, I think we can pretty much assume that winter has already arrived. That had to be one of the fastest fall seasons in recent memory.
It also goes without saying that winter can really do a number on a home, causing pipes to freeze and burst, the end result being flood conditions and water damage to your home (it always comes back to water damage with me doesn’t it?).
- Make sure pipes are insulated. They may lack insulating wrap or they may pass through areas of your structure where they are unprotected from the elements. Wrap them up with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation.
You should likewise wrap your hot water heater in insulation. Water heating accounts for roughly 15% of the average home energy bill, and you’ll be surprised at home much heat loss is prevented by a simple fiberglass wrap.
You also want to keep your water temperature around 120 degrees, and utilize low-flow shower heads to reduce the amount of hot water you use. This can knock off water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.
Make sure your hose bibs are shut off at the valve, and drain the lines as much as possible.
Check gutters and downspouts for any obstructions that could cause water to back up and freeze. Such a problem could cause water to drain off in all the wrong directions.
And if you choose to ignore this advice (which more than 90% of you will), I wish you nothing but happy home repairs….
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