According to the National Weather Service, the region experiences 29 freeze days on average every year. Freezing temperatures typically begin in November and can last through March.
David Whitson, service manager for Colony AC, said that homeowners should take steps to winterize their homes prior to freezing weather.
The overview
Whitson said one of the most important reasons why homeowners should winterize their homes is energy efficiency, adding that poor insulation and air leaks can lead to increased energy bills.
“Properly insulating your home and sealing air gaps so you can retain heat...is probably one of the biggest reasons for winterizing your home,” Whitson said, adding that sealing gaps in a home will also help with pest control, as insects and rodents seek shelter from the freezing temperatures.
To help heating systems run as efficiently as possible, Whitson said homeowners should ensure they change air filters at the beginning of every season.
Lastly, it’s important to winterize a home to help avoid frozen water pipes, Whitson said, noting that poorly insulated and external water pipes are especially at risk.
“We work closely with several plumbers and generally after a freeze, I can’t get them to do anything for us because they are weeks out repairing frozen pipes,” Whitson said.
The specifics
To avoid frozen pipes and other issues related to freezing temperatures, Whitson said homeowners should start by allowing their faucets to drip and opening cabinet doors below sinks.
He also suggested covering outdoor water spigots to help prevent them from bursting. Whitson said homeowners typically don’t have to worry about frozen pipes until temperatures drop to about 20 degrees.
When it comes to winterizing, Whitson said it's important for homeowners to have their heating system checked by professionals to help prevent system failures, whether it's a gas furnace or a heat pump.
“Not only can it fail, during those times when you have failure...[heating and AC companies] are busy and it may be a few days...before somebody can get out to your house to look at your heater,” Whitson said. “Then you may experience the frozen pipes and all the other things that go along with it.”
Whitson recommends a professional inspect the heating and cooling systems twice a year, once before summer and once before winter, but said that it is more critical to check the heating systems.
“Being warm is a little uncomfortable,” Whitson said. “Being cold and freezing is deadly, or at least it can be.”
What else?
Whitson said a common misconception among homeowners is that they should close doors and shut vents in rooms they are not using.
“That's actually not a good idea,” Whitson said. “You really want to have all your vents open and your doors cracked to get good airflow through the house.”
