(WTNH) — Before those temperatures hit the freezing point make sure your home is ready to handle the weather.
One of the mistakes people make is waiting until it actually feels cold to start getting ready. Even though you’re probably not thinking about furnace tune ups in July, experts say that’s a good time of year to get things like that done.
Keith Jordan, an oil dispatcher at Tracey Energy Services in New Haven, has been busy. Many people wait until it starts to get cold to get their homes ready for winter. Jordan recommends a furnace cleaning, or tune up, every year to make sure everything is working properly.
“We have technicians that will come out there, check your flue pipes,” Jordan said. “They will check on the efficiency of the unit.”
Many people put off checking or filling their oil tanks, but that could mean having to wait longer for help.
Jordan says instead plan ahead; there are some things that should be done every year anyway.
“The parts that we change on the furnace are your oil filters; we check your primary control,” said Jordan. “We check your transformer.”
Meanwhile, hardware stores are also gearing up for the cold weather. Experts say one of the things you can do to get your yard ready is bring garden hoses inside.
“Turn off spigots for the outside – this way you don’t freeze those up and have a flooded basement,” said David Katz, owner of Goody’s Hardware in East Haven.
Experts say now is the time to make sure your windows are properly insulated, which can save you a lot of money on your heating bill.
“It’s an easy thing to do. It doesn’t cost a lot of money,” said Katz. “To get a roll of insulation is a couple dollars. You’ll be a lot warmer.”
Changing your filters can help you heat your home more efficiently. Experts say that’s another thing many people tend to put off.
Cleaning your gutters is another important thing to do before it gets much colder. They are probably full of leaves. If an ice dam forms during the winter, that could cost you.
