Fall Fillup & Pre Season Checklist
During the month of August, our company shifts back into our regular delivery schedule with fall fill ups. Our weather here in the High County can be somewhat unpredictable between seasons. This time of year, the nights and mornings start getting a chill in the air, while the days remain warm. This is when most customers start utilizing their small propane appliances (gas logs, vent free heaters) to knock the chill off before utilizing their main source of heat when the weather gets cold and stays cold.
Several tips to ensure you and your home are ready for cold weather are listed below.
When beginning to utilize heat, make sure all windows and doors are closed, with no breeze or air coming in around the edges. Consider installing weather stripping or other insulation in gaps to prevent cold air entering the home.
Make sure that proper insulation is installed in walls, ceiling and subfloor (basement/crawlspace). Some homes in the area were built for summer use only, and don’t have proper insulation for year-round use. If proper insulation isn’t in place, heat loss will become money wasting factor.
Turn water off water sources that are on the exterior of the home. This includes all spigots and outdoor faucets. Water hoses need to be disconnected and stored out of the weather. If a water hose remains connected, even if the water is off, water could freeze into the spigot and cause damage to water lines leading outside.
Have your furnace and other gas appliances serviced. This way you are ready for when cold weather returns, with assurance that your heats sources are in proper working order.
All heat ducts need to be free and clear of debris or any blockages. Furniture placement needs to be considered, not to block air flow.
For whole home units, change filters so air circulation is clean and unit isn’t working so hard to ‘breathe’.
Set thermostat to a comfortable level, and remember, even when you aren’t home your heating unit is working to keep the temperature inside the house at the temperature the thermostat is set to.
If you have any questions about your heating efficiency, we are always glad to help evaluate your needs. Call our office at 828-733-3603 to arrange a visit from a service technician.