Practical preparation before winter sets in will keep your heating bills as low as possible. Your heating and cooling systems, plus plumbing, will serve you longer if they need not work too hard against Mother Nature.

What You Can Do to Prep for Winter

Here are some steps you can take to make sure you stay comfortable all winter long:

• Ensure your heating unit is in top shape by scheduling regular maintenance
• Replace furnace air filter before the heating season starts and every month until warm weather returns
• Flush water heaters to reduce sediment
• Check pressure valve on water heater
• Unhook outdoor hoses from the spigots
• Check windows and doors for drafts

We make the first five items on the list easy to cross off. All you need to do is contact us to schedule service.

Easier still, sign up for our Shield Program for twice-yearly inspections and maintenance. We take the hassle out of the winter and summer switchovers between heating and air conditioning.

Plus, when you enter the Shield Program, you get top billing on our schedule — which fills up fast in the spring and fall. Should you need AC, plumbing or furnace repair work as a Shield member, you receive ten percent off your bill. On top of the discount, we warrant our workmanship for 30 days and parts for up to a year.

Besides Calling Your HVAC Company, Don’t Forget Your Hoses and Portals

Few things will challenge your sanity like a pipe bursting inside your home. So, make sure your garden hoses are unhooked before freezing temperatures strike. However, should that happen, emergency repairs are just a phone call away.

Lastly, check your windows and doors for air leaks. You can do this several ways:

1. Look for daylight around the jambs or check at night with a partner and a flashlight.
2. Look for missing or shrunken caulking/weather stripping and replace as needed.
3. Shut the window or door on a dollar bill, then see if you can pull it out.
4. Get a professional energy audit. See if your utility company offers them for free.
5. Use a thermal leak detector — available at hardware stores for about $40.

With thorough servicing of your HVAC unit and air leaks resolved, you’re less likely to face a furnace repair this winter.

Contact the team at Knight’s Mechanical for help with your home’s cold-weather preparations. We’re your go-to HVAC company to keep you comfortable no matter what the temperatures are outside.