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How to Winterize Your Home

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To keep your home cozy and prevent damage, it’s important to prepare your home for winter. But where do you start? And when do your start? The best time to start your southern home winterization process is about a week before the first frost or snowfall is expected.

Here we’ll cover the best practices for winterizing your HVAC system, keeping your pipes from bursting, and how to deal with a mobile home going into winter.

How to Winterize Your HVAC System

Keeping your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system running properly through winter is key to keeping your home cozy. But heat is only part of it. You should also know how to winterize your central air conditioner to ensure it lives through its expected lifespan.

  • An HVAC inspection will tip you off to any repairs or replacements that should be made before winter starts. Pairing the inspection with an annual cleaning also ensures your system is tuned up and ready.
  • Changing your HVAC filter is a good practice to make sure heated air flows smoothly through your home and the system doesn’t have to strain to keep you warm.
  • Powering off your outdoor AC unit prevents accidental damage to the unit from condensation freezing the coils after the system kicked on for a sunny winter day.
  • Clearing leaves and twigs away from your AC unit is a proactive measure to make the space less ideal for rodents to nest in. it also prevents damage from moisture in the leaves getting into the system and freezing.
  • Use foam to insulate exposed pipes near your air conditioner and cover the unit to protect it from the winter weather.
  • Cleaning your ducts ensures that your heater isn’t blowing dusty, dirty air through the ductwork, which improves indoor air quality.

How to Winterize Your Home Plumbing 

After your HVAC system, your next concern should be your plumbing. If you leave for a few weeks out of the winter, you do not want to return to busted pipes. The plumbing damage is one thing, but the extensive water damage takes costs to the next level. Here is a step-by-step solution to winterize your home water pipes.

  1. Shut off the main water valve.
  2. Release the drain valve on each tap.
  3. Use an air compressor to flush the remaining water from the pipes.
  4. Drain your hot water tank and central holding tank. Some tanks may require a hose to remove the water.
  5. Clear as much water from the toilets as you can by flushing.
  6. Leave the heat on, keeping your thermostat near 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmth will keep your plumbing above freezing temperature without running up your energy bill.
  7. Adding foam insulation or heat tape to your pipes is another preventative measure you can take.

Related Content: Top 5 Ways to Get Your HVAC System Ready for Winter

How to Winterize a Mobile Home

[A3] We talked about preparing your HVAC and plumbing for winter, but what are the specifics for winterizing a mobile home? Do you need to take any extra measures? Yes, while you will still need to care for the HVAC and plumbing, there are a few elements that make preparing manufactured homes for winter unique.

  • Check the marriage line. Adequate insulation helps prevent leaking warm air from the silicone line connecting the two units of a double-wide. While the line is originally weatherproof, over time it can become brittle and crack.
  • Inspect the home’s underbelly and make any necessary repairs. Mobile homes have a stiff sheet covering the bottom. This is called an underbelly, and it holds in a blanket of insulation to keep your home warm. The underbelly also prevents rodents from nesting in the house and protects against water damage from ground moisture.
  • Install skirting. This skirting, made of vinyl, metal, or plastic covers gaps around the base of your manufactured home. This helps keep your home warmer by reducing air leaks and preventing snow from building up under the house.

Prepare Your Texas Home for Winter

Knowing when to winterize your home and making a list of everything that needs to be done simplifies the process. What makes it easier is knowing professionals that can help you with annual HVAC cleanings and tune-ups as well as plumbing services. Our team here at Fox Service can make winterizing your home in Austin a breeze. Give us a call at 512-488-1120 [A5] or schedule service online to get started.