Winterize your home in Houston
Winterizing your home in Houston
- Insulate and wrap all exposed pipes inside and outside from the cold. Inside pipes are accessible in the attic and under sinks or in garage areas. Outside pipes need wrapped all the way to the ground
- Seal your air leaks around windows and doors
- Check your home for openings that could allow bugs, small animals and rodents to come inside and set up housekeeping
If you are leaving town for an extended period of time...
- All of the above and….
- Turn off the water to the house and open all the outside valves and leave them open while away
- If you have a gas water heater, you want to turn the control to ‘Pilot”, or there might be a setting on your heater for ‘away/vacation’.
- If the water heater is electric, you want to turn the breaker off
- You do not need to drain your water heater
- For your washing machine, it is a good idea to turn the hot and cold valves to ‘off’
- For your HVAC system, it is a good idea to set the thermostat to 55 or 60 degrees
- If your HVAC system has an auto changeover capability, set the low temperature for 55 to 60 degrees and your high temperature to about 85 degrees
- Upon your return to your home, it is recommended that you have your HVAC system inspected since it has been idle for an extended period of time
- Have your plumber turn back on your house water supply and flush out the lines
