Winter is coming: Steps to prepare your home for the coming weather

Figure of house and warm scarf on light background. Concept of heating season

As fall turns to winter and temperatures begin to drop, it is important to protect your family’s biggest investment — your home. Austin and Chase Boyce are third-generation owners of Airco Service, which has been offering heating, air conditioning, plumbing and generator services to northeast Oklahoma for more than 60 years. The two shared the following tips to get your home ready for winter.

Water safety

Disconnect water hoses and drain them. Cover all outdoor faucets during freezing temperatures, especially north-facing faucets. Outdoor faucet covers come in a range of prices and can be purchased online or at hardware and home improvement stores. For indoor faucets and pipes, open cabinets under sinks along exterior walls to let heat circulate during especially cold spells and allow a small flow of water to run from faucets, especially those furthest from the meter. Water continuously flowing throughout your pipes can prevent them from freezing.

System check

Be sure to get a furnace tune up and thorough safety inspection before it gets too cold. The best times to have routine maintenance done on AC and furnace units are during the shoulder seasons: spring and fall. An experienced technician will look out for common issues and make sure the system is running efficiently and safely. And do not forget to change air filters and clean air vents to remove the buildup of dust and dirt that can cause inefficient airflow.

Insulate

Insulation is the most cost-effective way to keep a home warm in the winter. Make sure attic insulation is in good condition to protect pipes throughout the home. Also check around exterior doors and windows and seal places where chilly air may get in with weatherstripping, caulking and spray foam.

Protect

Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are extremely important year-round, but especially during the winter months when residents are more likely to use gas appliances. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, in living rooms and dens and on every level of your home. Also, test alarms each month and change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors annually.

Have a back-up plan

Generators are great to have during winter. Oklahoma can get some brutal winter weather, so a generator means you do not have to worry about not having heat during a bad winter storm — or a prolonged power outage as much of Tulsa endured this summer. The primary hazards when using a generator are carbon monoxide poisoning and electric shock. Never run gas-powered generators indoors.

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