When temperatures drop to freezing lows, heating and plumbing problems are very common.  There are many things that homeowners can do to prevent these types of problems that have the potential to cause severe damage to your home.

ARS®/Rescue Rooter® has provided the following tips to keep homeowners and their families throughout the nation safe and warm as freezing temperatures take over the next few months.

You Are My Sunshine: Take advantage of the sun to bring in heat.

·          On sunny days, adjust blinds so they are open and tilted toward the ceiling.

·          Set your ceiling fan in the reverse position, on low.  When radiant heat enters your home from the windows aimed upward, the fan will help circulate warm air all around the room.

·          Be sure to close the blinds at sundown.

Warm It Up: Circulating warm air helps keep pipes in the walls from freezing.

·          Keep your house temperature above 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. 

·          Open cabinet doors under sinks and faucets and near exterior walls to help circulate warm air and keep pipes warmer.

·          Close crawl space vents and garage doors, especially if your water heater is in the garage.

Wetness Equals Warmth: Homes become dried-out in the wintertime.

·          During cold weather, increased use of your heater causes the home and its interior air to become dryer than usual.  A humidifier can help add needed moisture to your home during the wintertime.

·          Humidifiers can improve health issues like dry sinuses, while saving energy.  Since moist air holds heat, you may feel more comfortable and lower your normal heat setting due to the increased comfort.

·          Make sure to maintain your humidifier properly.  Whether it is a portable or whole-house humidifier, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for care.  However, in general, clean or replace the filters regularly and wash the base and reservoir.

To Freeze or Not to Freeze: Frozen pipes are common, and can be avoided.

·          Watch your water pressure this time of year because the first sign of a frozen pipe is restricted water flow.  If you notice this, be sure to act quickly and call a professional.

·          Let cold water trickle from your faucets, slightly smaller than a pencil’s width, during the evening when the temperature is the coldest. This helps prevent freezing as moving water does not freeze.

Check It Out: Maintain your system for optimal comfort.

The best defense against heating problems is to make sure your system is maintained year-round. Having heating equipment serviced by a reputable company at least once a year could reduce your heating bill and prevent costly repairs and replacements in the future.

This professional inspection should include:

·          Inspecting the overall safety of gas systems

·          Thermostat calibration

·          Inspection and cleaning of the air handler/blower

·          Filter inspection and cleaning

·          Inspection of wiring and connections

·          Identifying hot and cold spots in the home

·          Gauging electrical systems for proper amp draw

Hosed Up:  Garden hoses can cause major damage if not disconnected.

·          Disconnect garden hoses and drain outdoor pipes to prevent damage during the winter.

·          During cold snaps, if a garden hose is left connected, ice will form and pressure will build up in the water lines inside your home.  Once this occurs, a water line leak or break is common.  This can cause severe damage to the home.

·          After disconnecting hoses, you should install an exterior, insulated faucet jacket.  This will protect your outdoor faucets, as well as the connecting lines running into the home, from freezing temperatures.

·          Also, be sure to utilize the shut-off valves located inside your home to drain water from pipes leading to outdoor hose bibs.  These valves can typically be found under sinks, in crawl spaces or basements, near your water heater or your meter, but every home is different and some homes may not be equipped with these valves.

Feng Shui For Savings: Allow warm air to enter the home by not blocking vents.

·          Make sure your furniture is not blocking a vent or return air grills.

·          Try to arrange your couch and chairs so they are away from windows and exterior walls, as those areas are likely to be colder.

Gutter Clutter: Clear leaves and debris to prevent flooding and damage.

·          Gutter cleaning should occur in the fall, but as winter sets in, make sure your gutters are free of leaves and debris.  By keeping them clean, it will allow for rain and snow to drain properly. 

·           If the gutters or drains become clogged, ice dams can form causing water to back-up and freeze.  If this happens, water can begin to seep into the house.

·          Check your downspouts as well.  Make sure they are clear and carrying water at least 10 feet away from the house’s foundation.  If water settles around the house, flooding and structural damage could occur.

Burning Up: Make sure you aren’t losing energy out of your fireplace.

·          Fireplaces can waste a lot of energy, as they pull warm air out of the house through the chimney.

·          Make sure the damper is closed when you’re not using your fireplace.

·          Installing glass doors can also help keep heat in your home when the fireplace is not in use.

Clear The Way: Check to be sure that snow is not restricting your heat or water drainage.

·          It is very important to keep ice and snow buildup away from your exterior HVAC unit or heat pump to ensure the best efficiency.

·          Watch the area around your sump pump discharge line used to avoid flooding indoors, as this line drains from a basement to an outside area.  If the drainage area is blocked by snow or flowing into a puddle, freezing could occur as well as water backing-up into the house.

Exhausted: Don’t lose heated air through exhaust fans.

·          Use exhaust fans sparingly and turn them off when not in use during colder weather as they pull heated air out of your house. 

·          Exhaust fans used during cold weather can cause negative pressure inside your home that can lead to back drafts from your fireplace and can cause drafts through the walls, windows and uninsulated outlets in your home.

Irrigation Appreciation: Prepare irrigation systems for cold weather to prevent freezing.

·          Winterize your irrigation system by shutting off the water supply to the system.

·          Don’t forget to drain the in-ground systems.  This includes the backflow prevention device.

·          To further prevent winter irrigation system issues, you can have a professional hook up an air hose to the system’s water main.  This will allow compressed air from a compressor to blow through the lines, instead of water.  This should be done before snow and severe cold set in.

For more information about ARS®/Rescue Rooter® and its services, please call (888) 762- 7752 or visit www.ARS.com.

About ARS®/Rescue Rooter®

ARS®/Rescue Rooter® provides customers across the United States with an exceptional service experience through professional heating, air conditioning, plumbing and drain cleaning services. Serving both residential and light commercial customers, ARS®/Rescue Rooter® includes 57 company operated and locally managed service locations spanning 24 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information about ARS®/Rescue Rooter® visit www.ARS.com.

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