With Colorado’s unpredictable weather, you never know when winter will hit. That’s why as Autumn’s chilly days start to roll around, it’s best to begin winterizing your home.
To help protect your HVAC and plumbing systems from the harsh winter cold, below we’ve outlined our top 5 Colorado winterization tips:
- Schedule a heating tune-up
- Replace or clean air filters
- Ensure plumbing is insulated
- Disconnect exterior hoses
- Perform chimney maintenance
Through these simple tips, you can rest easy knowing that your household will be warm and comfortable all season long.
Interested in scheduling a heating tune-up? Contact Cooper Heating & Cooling for a 17-point safety and performance inspection. Whether you have a furnace, heat pump, boiler, or more, our skilled HVAC pros will help you keep energy bills low and avoid system breakdowns.
Schedule a heating tune-up
Even if you do nothing else on this list, get a heating tune-up. Why? Because during Colorado winters, you rely on your heating system to keep you safe and comfortable every day.
For maximum efficiency, not to mention peace of mind that your system won’t fail on you, we recommend scheduling a heating tune-up at the start of the heating season. We share this for two main reasons:
- After months of inactivity, your heating system will probably be covered in dust and dirt, and in need of a good cleaning. This is especially true for furnaces, which can put off an unpleasant burning odor if there’s dirt buildup within them.
- You could have damaged or failing parts that broke during the previous winter. Unless you have a professional inspect behind the scenes, you won’t know what’s wrong until it’s too late and your system breaks down. Usually right when you need it most, on a freezing cold day.
To avoid expensive repair bills (or worse, being without heat!) it’s best to schedule a heating tune-up with a professional and experienced HVAC technician. Most reputable contractors provide a guaranteed tune-up checklist as well as upfront and honest prices.
At Cooper Heating and Cooling, our 17-point heating tune-up costs $129 and can be completed in just 30 minutes to one hour.
Replace or clean air filters
Colorado winters can be long and brutal, which means you’ll probably run the heat for months on end. And with more air circulating through your HVAC system, it’s crucial that your air filters are replaced or cleaned regularly. Otherwise, you risk having a clogged filter decrease your entire heating system’s efficiency.
Here’s why:
Over time, your air filters will get clogged with indoor air contaminants like dust, hair, and dirt. But when too much debris builds up, the flow of air gets blocked and your system goes into overdrive, thinking it needs to put out more warm air. Unfortunately, this can quickly lead to increased energy bills and costly repairs.
If we haven’t already convinced you to get a heating tune-up, perhaps we can sway you by sharing that most HVAC technicians will automatically check your air filters for you. If you need a replacement, your tech will let you know. And if it’s a simple cleaning, your tech may even handle it for you.
Ensure plumbing is well-insulated
To avoid frozen pipes, it’s important to ensure that your home’s plumbing is well-insulated.
Most newer Colorado homes are built to protect plumbing from the cold, but if you happen to have an older home, your pipes may be exposed to freezing temperatures.
On a blistering winter morning, the last thing you want is to wake up to no running water— only to find out that your pipes have frozen. And if a plumber can’t come soon enough to de-thaw them, you risk having your pipes burst from pressure buildup, which can often require whole-home repiping!
For peace of mind, it’s a good idea to check and see what kind of plumbing setup you have. If your pipes aren’t winterized, you should have them wrapped in protective insulation.
Disconnect exterior hoses
In addition to protecting your indoor plumbing, it’s also wise to disconnect exterior hoses.
The good news is that you can do it yourself. Simply unscrew any exterior hoses from their spigots, shake loose any water, and then store in the garage or garden shed until spring.
Not only will you keep your hose intact, but you’ll also avoid water freezing in your pipes.
Chimney maintenance
Last but not least, we recommend that you perform chimney maintenance (if you have a chimney).
It’s important to close chimney dampers so that you keep unwanted drafts out. Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to have your chimney cleaned.
Once winter ends and homeowners get distracted by outdoor activities, it’s easy to forget that all of last season’s soot buildup is still lingering in your fireplace.
To avoid breathing potentially hazardous air quality (and be set up to enjoy warm cozy fires this winter!) we recommend having a professional chimney sweeper clean out your fireplace. They’ll have the right tools and equipment to reach the full height of your chimney, and ensure peace of mind that the job is done correctly.
Prepare for winter with help from Cooper Heating & Cooling.
For more than 40 years, the Cooper Green Team has kept Coloradans warm and comfortable— no matter what time of year we have freezing temperatures. To ensure your home’s heating system operates in prime condition, contact our HVAC pros for a heating tune-up. Throughout your service, we’ll provide honest recommendations on how to keep heating bills down and ensure your system lasts as long as possible.
Related reading:
- 5 Ways to Save Money on Energy Costs in the Winter
- When Should I Replace a Furnace in Colorado?
- What’s the Cost to Install a Heat Pump in Denver?
Luke Cooper is the General Manager of the Cooper Green team and son of Gary Cooper, owner and CEO of Cooper HVAC. After years in the field, Luke took his talents to management and has helped thousands of Colorado homeowners during hot summers and frigid winters. His decade of experience in the field and guiding the company makes him one of the most knowledgeable individuals in Colorado on HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other home services.
