Cold Weather Is Here - 4 Items for the To-Do List
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:42PMHello Austin. It's me, winter. I'm on my way to come stay with you for a couple months. I hope that's alright because I'm not really asking permission. Here are a few items to make sure you take care of before I arrive in full force.
Furnace inspection.
Make sure your furnace is fully functional so when that cold weather hits, it'll be ready to go. This can include cleaning the ducts as well if necessary. Also make sure you have fresh furnace filters installed. As a precautionary measure, remove all flammable items surrounding your furnace just in case anything goes wrong.
Get the fireplace ready.
If you have a fireplace, make sure that your chimney is clear of blockages before lighting a fire. Filling your house up with smoke is probably something you want to avoid. Also make sure your damper and flue are functioning properly. You can find firewood at a supermarket (it's kind of expensive there), or at various roadside locations (I know of at least one place on 360 on the southbound side where a guy sells it out of his pickup truck).
Prevent plumbing freezes.
This may be the most important one, and also is fairly easy. Put styrofoam spigot covers over your exterior hose spigots to prevent the water from freezing and bursting in your walls. Be sure to drain garden hoses as any remaining water in them will freeze, expand, and damage or rupture the hose.
Unfortunately, many Texas homes were not built with extreme cold temperatures in mind. If your walls are not properly insulated there is a risk of pipes breaking within the walls. There is little you can do about this, other than to be sure to pay attention for possible leakage during cold snaps, and don't leave areas of your home un-checked for too long.
Locate your water main in case there is a water emergency and you need to shut off the water flow. Also be sure to drain your air conditioning unit's pipes.
Prepare landscaping.
Bring any hanging or potted plants indoors as they are the most susceptible to cold. Be sure that trees are trimmed back and away from the house and roof because extreme cold can cause them to break.
And stay warm! Winter won't last too long!
Reader Comments (1)
Use the vacuum to get any loose debris along the base of the furnace and from around the burners. While the furnace is open, check for any wear and tear on the fan belts. If the belts look dry, glazed, or are cracked, or if they are loose, they may need to be replaced. The bearings of older furnaces should be oiled with a non-detergent motor oil.