How To Winterize Your Home While You’re Away

Traveling for the Holidays? Don’t Forget These Important To-Do’s!

After last year’s holiday season, many of us here in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky are eager to spend this year’s with family and friends.

For many of us, that means hitting the road in one way, shape, or form. Some of you may be snowbirds, spending your winter in warmer places like Florida, Arizona, or even the Gulf Coast. No matter where your destination is, you need to make sure your home is protected from the winter elements while you’re gone. These tips not only keep your home safer, but they can also save you big on your energy costs.

Tune Up Your Heating System

You may be wondering why you need to get a tune-up, as you won’t be using your heating system as much—or at all—while you’re away. But your house still needs to be kept safely warm. If your furnace or boiler break down while you’re away, the temperature within could get cold enough inside to freeze and burst the pipes. Getting a tune-up not only identifies any current problems, but helps in treating any concerns before they have the ability to develop into larger problems.

This season is especially busy for both us and other respective HVAC service providers—so be sure to make an appointment as soon as possible!

Re-Program Your Thermostat and Water Heater

Don’t waste energy and money heating your house while you’re not there. Keep the thermostat set to a constant 55°F until you return. That minimizes energy consumption—but still keeps the home warm enough to protect the pipes.

When you’re away on vacation, a smart thermostat comes in handy. You can use your smartphone to check your thermostat settings from anywhere with a signal and program it to warm up the house before your return. Some smart thermostats even let you know if your heating system needs service or repairs.

Similarly, there’s no point in keeping water hot when you’re not home! Turn your water heater to the “Vacation” or “Low” setting until you return.

Unplug Your Energy “Vampires”

Energy vampires are those appliances and electronics that suck up energy even when you’re not using them, driving up your monthly energy costs.

There are a number of these that may be found in the kitchen and bathroom. Disconnect small kitchen appliances, such as multicookers, coffeemakers, stand mixers, and toasters. Unplug electric toothbrushes and hair styling tools like blow dryers or flatirons from the bathroom.

Other appliances and electronics around your home to unplug include:

• Washers and dryers (especially if they’re newer models with digital features)
• Televisions
• Gaming systems
• Desktop computers
• Modems and routers
• Chargers for phones, laptops, and tablets
• Digital alarm clocks
• Printers and scanners

Check Your Propane Supply, Too!

If you typically call us for your fuel deliveries, and you know you’re going to be away for more than a few weeks, it’s a good idea to fill your propane tank before you go to ensure that your heating system and water heater have the propane they need to keep operating while you are away.

Keep Filled automatic propane delivery customers should get in touch with us too to let us know if they are going to be away for more than a month, so we can adjust your delivery schedule and avoid an unnecessary delivery to your home.

Have questions about your propane service? Get in touch with Advanced Propane today and we’ll be happy to help!