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How to Winterize Your Home While You’re Away

Simple Precautions To Save Your Plumbing and Your Sanity

home winterizing connecticutWinters can be intense in northern Connecticut, and we don’t blame you for wanting to escape the cold.

But it’s important to prep your home if you’re going to be away for even a couple of cold nights. You don’t want your home’s plumbing to face sub-freezing temperatures, or you might return to a frozen or burst pipe. That will ruin your vacation calm pretty quickly.

Luckily, you can avoid this scenario with a few simple winterizing tips.

Insulate your exposed pipes

If you can see a pipe, it is vulnerable to freezing. This is especially true if the pipe is near an external wall. Exposed pipes in your garage, basement, attic, or crawlspaces need special attention, so consider wrapping them with insulation sleeves or heat tape.

While you’re at it, you might want to consider optimizing your home’s insulation. Even newly-built houses can benefit from additional insulation. Our expert team members can help.

Invest in a smart thermostat

If you’re leaving home for an extended period, you will undoubtedly want to lower your heating. That is fine, but don’t turn it off completely. Before leaving home, lower your thermostat to 60° and set your fan to “auto” rather than “on” to prevent it from running 24/7.

However, the best way to ensure that your empty home does not become dangerously cold is with a smart thermostat. These Wi-Fi-enabled devices let you monitor and adjust your home’s temperature wherever you go with a smartphone or tablet!

Shut off your main water valve

This might seem obvious, but it’s still worth considering: your pipes won’t freeze if there’s no water in them.

You can clear your home’s pipes reasonably quickly. Before you leave on vacation, shut off the main water valve to your home and open all your faucets. When the taps run dry, you know your pipes are clear.

With these easy steps, you can feel secure that your home’s plumbing will remain safe while you’re away. If you do have a plumbing emergency, though, the experts at Homestead Comfort are on call to repair your pipes.

Are you looking for a heating and cooling company that will keep your family warm and comfortable? Contact Homestead Comfort today to become a customer.