Is your home ready for freezing temperatures?
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Winter weather wreaks havoc not just for drivers, but homeowners, too.
It’s a busy time for heating, ventilating and air conditioning companies. The biggest problem this time of year is frozen pipes.
The remedy is simple and most people know it: Allow water to flow from faucets and open the doors to cabinets where pipes are during freezing temperatures.
Homeowners should be concerned about two things with this time of year.
First and, most expensive, is pipes.
“You’re probably going to be about $325 to take care of your first one. The problem is, when you have one, you generally have more than one. They can get very expensive very quickly,” said Matt Harold of Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
But, the expense doesn’t end there. Bursting pipes can be a snowball effect and money down the drain.
“It’s going to damage ceilings, floors, all of those type of situations that you are going to have to deal with,” Gibson said.
If pipes are the most expensive problem, the furnace is maybe the most important.
“So that we’re not stuck out on a negative-20 degree day, trying to figure out how to get our heat back on,” said Andrew Gibson of Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
During a furnace inspection Friday, Gibson looked for a variety of things: working motors, a clear flue and a clean air filter.
“When we near the colder temperatures, we need to verify that we have a good filter. It’s clean. There’s no obstructions in any of the ductwork. Those type of things is what’s going to keep a home warm and comfortable,” Gibson said.
Most filters require changing from every 2-3 months. Some require a change more often. In short, keep pipes from freezing, maintain the furnace and pass the inspection.
Chapman recommend furnace inspections twice a year. They have a service plan for that, as do most heating and cooling companies.