Simple But Effective Ways To De-Winterize Your Home
It is not uncommon for people to prepare their homes for the winter by ‘winterizing’ their homes. This can be very handy for those who leave their homes to seek warmer climates. But upon your return, you have to make sure that all the safety measures you put in place to enable your home to withstand the low winter temperatures are reversed. This process is known as de-winterization, and it is necessary to make your home habitable. Here are some easy steps to help you de-winterize your home.
Turn on all electrical circuits
It is quite normal practice to shut off a lot of electrical circuits when winterizing a home. This ensures that only the essential electrical circuits are left operational. To turn on all electrical circuits, open up the main service panel and check all the separate circuit breakers’ branches. Turn them on and make sure they are working well. This should restore power to all parts of the house and electrical appliances.
Inspect water pipes and tubes
The water supply is typically cut off to the home to reduce the incidence of frozen and damaged pipes. But before reconnecting the water and having water flowing through the house, you have to inspect all plumbing fixtures and the septic tank thoroughly. After inspecting the plumbing fixtures and certifying that they are in good working conditions, you now have to reconnect appliance inlets and flex tubes. It is advised that this inspection and reconnection are done room-by-room, meticulously inspecting toilets, showers, sinks, and other water-supplied appliances such as water heaters.
Connect water supply
After connecting all tubes and pipes, now you can turn on the main water supply. Please do not open it all the way; one-third of the total capacity is fine. Once the water gets into the home, you can check by opening each faucet one at a time and then closing it. Remember not to open the faucets all the way but slowly to allow the trapped air in the pipes to escape sufficiently. After you are done with the faucets, move on to the water appliances such as boilers and water heaters. Turn these appliances on and make sure they are all functioning properly.
Turn on the gas
To avoid the danger of gas leaks, natural gas is routinely turned off during a home’s winterization. In some instances, to prevent severe freezing, the main supply line is left running to feed a gas furnace. With everything else functioning properly, you can now turn on the gas. It would help if you were careful when checking the flow through the pipes and individual valves. Check all appliances connected to the gas lines and make sure they are all working well.
Check drainage systems
With all the snow and low temperatures, it is prevalent for drainage systems to get frozen. If not checked and defrosted, it can lead to water staying in one place for some time. Use water and antifreeze to ensure that all drainage systems that carry water away from the house are clear.
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