Winterizing Your Home Before It’s Too Late – 8 DIY Projects to Start Now
With another Halloween come and gone, homeowners of North Texas feel the crisp descension of fall around them. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures cooler. At the moment, we are in the “sweet spot” of energy efficiency. The days and nights aren’t quite cold enough to fire up the furnace, allowing you to layer up until the monthly utility bill starts to climb. Now is the best time to prepare for winter and make sure you save money, while not sacrificing comfort, through the long, chilly months. Try out our eight do-it-yourself tips for winterizing your home and thank us when your energy bills start to decrease.
- Filter Changes – Hopefully you had a recommended HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) checkup with a technician in October or plan on scheduling one very soon. If not, you’ll want to make sure you change the furnace filter before heating season gets underway.
- Clear the Area – Furnaces are typically located in a storage compartment within your home. Before you fire up the heat, remove any possible flammable materials left against or near the furnace that could produce a fire hazard.
- Check Out Your Thermostat — You’ll also want to test your thermostat before turning up the temperature. An easy way to do this is to take a digital thermometer into each room and double-check that each room is heating accurately and evenly.
- Winterize AC and Water Lines – Drain any water line hoses and air conditioning pipes and check for excess water pooled in any equipment. Shut off your AC water valve, if you have one. Also make sure all exterior water spigots have been turned off and remove any window AC units.
- Check and Replace Weather Stripping – If you don’t have weather stripping on every window and exterior door, invest in some or patch areas where it’s wearing thin. You’ll want to stay on top of this maintenance step to prevent drafts and leaks.
- Install Storm Doors and Windows – You may be amazed to know that by simply installing a storm door you can increase energy efficiency by up to 45 percent. Storm doors help seal drafts and reduce air flow, helping you stay warmer and keeping your budget under control. Federal tax credits may also be available for storm door installations, upping the incentive for purchasing one.
- Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious threat if your furnace experiences a cracked heat exchanger. You’ll want to install at least one detector for each floor of your home and then check the detectors once a month.
- Insulate Your Pipes – You’ll end up paying less for hot water if you insulate your pipes. Taking care of this can also minimize the risk of freezing pipes. If your pipes are warm to the touch, you’ll know they need pre-slit pipe foam installation, which you can find at most hardware stores.
Most of these tips are easy to do and budget-friendly. Taking a few days now to work on these projects will go a long way towards winterizing your home, helping you stay warm without racking up extra fees. On top of these general tips, we also always recommend you have your HVAC unit checked twice a year to keep up with potential repairs. For more info on our preventative maintenance plans and heating services, call us today at 817-238-1616.
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I had an issue with my A/C unit not cooling properly. The technician, Stacy, arrived during the time frame I was given, and I received a phone call about 30 minutes prior to his arrival, letting me know he was on his way. He was very professional and conscientious in figuring out and explaining the issue to me. He work was complete in a little over an hour and my house is cool once again! I will definitely refer Gorman Mechanical to others.
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I met with Gorman Mechanical’s Sales Manager. When he came out I had a bad taste in my mouth due to some misrepresentations made by another company that happened to be A rated on Angie’s List. Because of this I’m certain I was on the defensive and asked a million questions. He was very patient and took plenty of time answering all my questions. He was very knowledgeable and helped educate me on my options and the advantages/shortfalls of each. When I came to the actual bid, I felt it was very competitive compared to other bids I’d received. I felt so well informed and confident at that point I cancelled two other appointments I’d made for that day and signed up with Gorman Mechanical. He was able to promptly arrange a great deal on financing the bulk of the cost, leaving me to pay out of pocket for a couple last minute additions (extended warranty/Reme Halo). They did not want this until installation was complete. A couple days later they installed my new system and I’ve been very happy with it. Shortly after installation I had several other questions about maintenance and a small amount that was overcharged upon installation. He was very responsive answering my questions and arranging for a prompt refund check to be sent. Fortunately, it isn’t often that I need to spend so much money on an important purchase like this, but I felt very confident with my decision and going through the process with him and Gorman Mechanical made it painless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gorman Mechanical to friends and family.
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The repairman, Tim H., was prompt and courteous. I explained that he was a second opinion for our 21-year-old AC. The first company said that I would need 2 parts totaling $600 plus a coil that they would have to send a salesman out to quote me a price. Also first company was suggesting that I really needed whole new system. After inspection, Tim showed me how a part was wired the wrong way and he replaced a compactor and repaired a burnt wire. 2 lbs Freon were added. Total cost was retail: $217.75. I had a warranty so I paid less but what a difference in $600.00+ and $217.75! AC is working fine now. And we didn’t have to buy a new system. Thanks, Gorman Mechanical and Tim H.! The world needs more honest repairmen like you!
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