JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KLTV) – As East Texas prepares for freezing temperatures, experts say there are several things you can do to prepare your home for the cold.
“The best advice I can give coming into this weekend with it being very cold on Monday and Tuesday is be as proactive as you can,” said Kenton Guidry, the HVAC services manager at Bannister Plumbing and Air. “The last thing you want is to be reactive. It’s better to plan for something than to respond in an emergency situation.”
A key step in this process is testing your heating system before it is most needed. It is important to remember that a smokey smell can be normal the first time you turn on your heat after a while.
“It’s a little bit of the dust that has settled within the air conditioning system. Once that burns off, you’re ok, but have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in the home just to be safe,” said Guidry.
Cleaning the A/C vents in your home can be a good idea, especially if they are dirty.
Another of the biggest concerns with freezing temperatures is freezing pipes.
Leaving faucets dripping, insulting pipes and leaving sink cabinets open can all minimize this risk.
“Same thing with any hose pickets that are in the yard, sticking up from the ground: make sure those things are covered,” said Zach Harrison, the plumbing services manager at Bannister.
Keeping the heat in your home is a big part of minimizing your energy bill. Use a programmable thermostat, if you can, and check your doors and windows to make sure they aren’t letting air escape.
“Making sure all the weather stripping around your doors is not damaged or frayed will keep a lot of that infiltration from coming into the house,” said Guidry. “If you notice drafts when you walk by your windows and doors, you want to make sure all that is sealed.”
Harrison also said those with external water heaters should take some preventive steps.
“If you have an exterior water heater on the outside of your home, you want to make sure if you lose power to your home, to shut off the water tool and drain it off from the TMP valve,” said Harrison. “The TMP valve will drain the water out of the heater and prevent it from freezing.”
Harrison said those with a well should also take steps to prevent freezing.
“If you have a well, if you live outside the city and you have a well, you definitely want to get inside that building, help warm those pipes up,” he said.
Kenton Guidry and Zach Harrison with Bannister Plumbing and Air give tips on how to prepare your home for the upcoming freeze.
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