Winterizing your home will help you cut down on utility bills, protect your property, and even improve the quality of air in your house. Here is a closer look at five winterization tips that you can carry out in as little as a few hours.

1. Protect Your AC

AC units often have a higher risk of becoming damaged during the winter when they are no longer being used.

Window units that are not permanently attached to the walls should be removed, drained, and then stored in a dry environment.

Outdoor units should have their water lines drained and then the entire unit should be covered if possible.

2. Shut Off and Drain Outdoor Water Lines

No one wants to turn on their sprinklers or outdoor faucets for the first time in the spring only to notice cracks, damaged o-rings, and pools of standing water.

Those that do not have a landscaper should locate the primary water line leading to their irrigation system and then turn it off at the source. Hoses should be removed from the faucet, drained, and then stored somewhere out of the elements.

3. Clean and Repair Rain Gutters

Clogged rain gutters can result in serious damage after the first rainstorm as water will pool near the base of the Dundalk home and increase the risk of foundation cracks.

Rain gutters should be cleaned every week or two after the first leaves have begun to fall and well before any serious storms. Downspouts should also be checked for cracks and Dundalk homeowners should make sure that they lead far away from the foundation of the home.

4. Insulate Indoor Water Lines

Even water lines that will not be exposed to freezing temperatures should be covered with cheap foam insulation. Quite a bit of heat is lost as water travels through a home’s pipes, and this means that the water heater might be working harder than it needs to.

After insulating the pipes, homeowners can adjust their water heater until they find a comfortable temperature.

5. Service Your HVAC System

Preventative maintenance is the single best way to protect a furnace during the coldest months of the year. Much like the AC, furnaces and heaters that have not been used for a long period of time might have minor damage that must be repaired.

During these service calls, technicians can top off fluids, lube moving parts, replace filters, and test the thermostat’s accuracy.

Winter is almost upon us in the Dundalk, MD area. To get the best advice on winterizing your home, call Reliability Home at 443-399-8663 today!