Middle Georgia experts share winter home prep tips as temperatures drop

Plumbing and HVAC technicians say wrapping spigots, clearing gutters and checking filters now can help prevent expensive repairs during winter cold snaps.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – We’re getting a feel of colder weather is on the way, and experts say now is the time for Middle Georgia homeowners to prepare their houses for winter.

Chad Crews, lead plumber service tech with Heath’s Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, recommends wrapping your hoses, draining outside spigots and closing vents to prevent cold air from creeping in. He says frozen pipes are one of the biggest problems homeowners face.

“Wrap outside spigots, drain them down,” he said. “You can insulate the pipes in the crawl space. They also make heat tape you can put on those also. Any exterior plumbing inside the home, you just want to always make sure your home is heated well.”

Crews says inspecting your gutters and roof is key for winter weather.

“As far as gutters, make sure they are all clean and clear,” he said. “Get away any kind of downspouts and water; you want to get that away from the house. Roof vents are pretty solid. You don’t want to cap those off and prevent any water from going down in them, because they have to have the air to breathe for your system to work properly.”

He says homeowners should always know where their water meter is.

“That way in case of an emergency, you can get to your water and cut it off quickly, because the more water you lose can create damage, you just want to prevent all that stuff,” he said.

Heating and air service tech Jared Heath says an HVAC system is crucial in the winter for warmth, preventing costly breakdowns and comfort.

“We don’t have a very long winter in Georgia, but we do have very hard winters,” he said. “We get little cold snaps here and there that can lead to part failures, which are expensive repairs for most homeowners.”

Heath also says to get your HVAC and smoke alarms checked regularly.

“That is the only way your system breathes, so dirty filters can lead to your heat struggling, which is higher energy bills or the system failing entirely on the coldest nights,” he said. “Check your smoke alarms and your carbon dioxide detectors, especially if you have a gas furnace.”

If you need service, you can call Heath’s at (478) 312-6655, and if you donate a toy at their toy drive, you will receive a free AC/heating tune-up now through December 21.