Cold winter storms can wreak havoc on your home, and the ice, snow, or even just the cold temperatures have the ability to cause quite a bit of damage without you even realizing it. This is just one of the many reasons why you should carefully inspect a few of your home’s utilities once the weather begins to warm up.
Plumbing
When the weather fluctuates, it can have a major impact on all of the pipes, faucets, and spigots throughout your home, possibly cracking or breaking a few should ice have formed around or inside any of them. Unfortunately, this means that even minor plumbing problems can quickly add up, and a few slow leaks around your home could end up wasting hundreds of gallons of water every year. After the final frost of the season, you should take a close look at all of the exposed pipes and faucets in your home to ensure that there are no leaks that need to be taken care of.
HVAC
Well before you turn on your AC for the first time this year, you should visually inspect the system and have it serviced by a professional. Catching minor HVAC problems early on could save you quite a bit of money in the long run and prevent a total system breakdown during the hotter months of the year. A reputable air conditioning repair company should be able to take care of most basic HVAC problems in a matter of hours so that you can continue to enjoy a cool and comfortable home.
Electrical
Even though modern residential electrical systems tend to be very durable, some damage can take place during the fall and winter months. At the very least, you should check the breaker box and all electrical panels to ensure that there are no nests or frayed electrical lines. You will also need to inspect all of the outlets throughout your home to see if they are discolored, warped, or showing any other signs of damage.
Gas
Quite a bit of gas can be used when the weather begins to cool, and that extra wear and tear over the winter months could potentially result in some damage. The most common sign of a damaged gas line is the smell of sulfur, which you must immediately contact a technician about. If the outdoor gas line is damaged, then it could kill off some of the nearby foliage or even push up the dirt directly above the pipe.
Visually inspecting all of your utilities is a relatively easy task, but most repairs should be left to the professionals. An actual plumber, HVAC, or gas service will have the tools and training that are needed to safely maintain and repair all of the major utility systems throughout your home.
