Bursting Pipes are Not the Present we Hope for this Christmas!

December 21, 2022

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is in full swing. We have been making our lists and checking them twice, as we are now less than a week away from Christmas! But would you have thought you also need to make a list of home maintenance tasks that should be performed as well? 

According to local meteorologists, Central Virginia will be seeing artic cold air this holiday weekend! Chesterfield and surrounding areas could be seeing temperatures as low as 13 degrees and for that we need to be ready! Let us get prepared with home winterization. Here are a few items to check off your list when preparing for winter weather.

First you will want to check your crawlspace and close off all vents. This can help prevent freezing pipes. Test for good seals around your windows and doors. Adding weather strips and sealing or replacing drafty windows can help reduce your energy bill and keep your home from feeling frosty. Extra steps like vapor barrier and crawlspace encapsulation are other measures you can take to make your home as conditioned as possible.

Do you know where your water line shut off valve is located? This will be important to know in case of a pipe bursting. If a pipe does burst, you want to shut off that valve as quickly as possible to stop the flow of water and limit the damage. Turn on your faucets to a low drip and remove hoses from your outdoor spigots. 

Before Santa heads down the chimney, you will want to clean your chimney and check the fireplace flue. Hiring a professional inspector to check out your chimney and flu is an important checklist item for fire safety.

To stay cozy and warm you will need to have your HVAC system properly inspected by a professional. Whether you have a furnace, heat pump, boiler, radiator, or other type of heater, you want to make sure it is working properly for winter. You should also change your filters regularly and keep your thermostat at an even temperature. This will help protect against those dropping temperatures at night. Installing a programmable thermostat can also save on energy costs. Be sure to check your generator as well before any major storm.

Now we are ready for winter weather before the big guy heads down the chimney on Christmas morning. Our AirMaxx team is wishing you and your family a safe and Merry Christmas!