Maintain That Sump Pump

Since your sump pump removes water from your basement and any other low-lying areas of your house, you’ll want to test it before those winter storms come. Our plumbers would be happy to perform your sump pump maintenance or you can do it yourself. Just fill up the sump pump bucket and check to see if the pump turns on. It should eliminate that water quickly! If it doesn’t, you need more extensive sump pump repair. We’ll take a look and ensure that it’s all working well before winter comes!

Take a Look Down Your Sewer Line

It’s optimal to visually check your sewer line each fall. Your Chisholm plumber can send a video camera on a cable down your sewer line to find out if you need to clean it or replace a section. If you do, we’ll arrange for sewer cleaning or whatever other service you need.

Set Your Water Heaters Up for Success

If you haven’t maintained your hot water heater in the last year, it may need service before it’s ready for winter. We can perform a full water heater service or just flush the heater out. Check, too, to make sure your hot water heater temperature is set to 120, the ideal temp for most houses and people. Finally, remember that most water heaters won’t last much more than 12-15 years. If yours is older, consider replacing it before winter arrives.

Make Sure Your Home is Ready Before You Leave for Vacation

If you’re like many people, you might travel over the holidays or fall break. Ensure that your thermostat is set somewhere higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit or that you have installed a smart thermostat. That way, you can track the temperature in your house and turn on the furnace from your smartphone or tablet while you’re traveling. You may also want to insulate those pipes, especially any located outside or on exterior walls.

Prep Your Home Outside, Too

Ensure that you’ve unscrewed all of your hoses from any exterior faucets and drained those faucets, too. These pipes are the most likely to freeze and this can prevent major flooding later one. Ensure that your faucets aren’t leaking, either, so the pipes will stay empty of water once you have drained them. If you rely on a sprinkler system, get it blown out so the pipes under the ground don’t freeze.

At Chisholm Heating & Air, Plumbing & Electric, we would love to help you get your home ready for winter. Call us sometime this fall and we’ll be there soon to complete your maintenance fast so you won’t have to feel anxious anymore. Make an appointment soon to get in before it gets cold!

Everyone wants to spend less on energy, especially when it’s freezing outside and you know you’ll be running your heater quite a bit. Here are a few ways that we help our customers save money on their energy costs each year. If you have any questions, call us and we’ll do what we can to help you save even more.

Don’t Block Your Vents

If you block more than 10% of your vents, your heating system will be working extra hard to heat your house. Don’t close those vents and ensure that furniture and curtains are kept away from them, too. Check the air intake vents, too, to make sure they are completely accessible.

Seal Any Leaks

Heat can escape through tiny cracks. Even if you can’t see them, your house could be hemorrhaging hot air. In fact, you could lose up to 20% of your heat this way! Using caulk or tape, make a seal around your doors, windows, electrical outlets, and any other place where there’s a crack. If you can feel a draft or see light, seal it up.

Add More Insulation

Additional insulation can help keep your hot air inside, where it belongs! Use foam weather stripping – it’s cheap and provides an easy way to insulate your windows and doors. You can also purchase insulation in batts or rolls and use it to insulate your attic, crawl space, garage, and more.

Maintain Your Home

Hire an expert to examine your heater, your water heater, your electrical system, and anyplace else where your house could be losing energy. A professional can ensure that every system is functioning efficiently and that you aren’t paying too much when you use your home’s systems normally.

Call our team at Chisholm Heating & Air, Plumbing & Electric with any questions or if you want to have your home inspected with an eye to saving energy. We’ll come test it out and let you know what changes you can make to be sure that your home works as efficiently as possible all winter.

• Clear your vents. If any vents are full of debris or covered, it doesn’t matter how much warm air your furnace blows because it won’t get where you want it. Move curtains, trash cans, furniture, and anything else that might block the vents until they are completely clear. You may also want to ensure that debris and dust haven’t gathered in or near your vents because these can hinder airflow, too.
• Replace your filter. Even if you don’t do anything else, you can change out your furnace filter. These need to be changed regularly, anywhere from once each month to twice a year, depending on your system and how often you run it. When your filter is dirty, the furnace has to work harder than normal to acquire clean air to heat. This can make it heat poorly or burn out prematurely. If you’re smart, you can be proactive now and purchase several filters so they are ready for you to use them when you need them.
• Check burners and blowers. Dust and debris can build up inside the furnace. Gently remove as much of it as possible because it can become a fire hazard. It can also cause problems that will need to be repaired later on, too. You may also choose to ensure that your burner gets aligned correctly and that your blower gets oiled so the furnace motor will run smoothly.
• Schedule professional furnace maintenance. The very best way to ensure that you get the furnace maintenance you require is to call our team and schedule an appointment now. We’ll come out to you soon, check every part of your furnace, and notify you if you require repairs before winter arrives. If you do, we’ll complete them and ensure that your furnace service is finished before you need to use it.

At Chisholm Heating & Air, Plumbing & Electric, we will ensure that your furnace works well for you all winter. All you need to do is contact us and let us know you want to schedule a maintenance visit. We’ll have a furnace technician out to your home soon!