Snowbird Checklist for 2023

Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Heading south for the winter isn’t just for the birds anymore. During the winter season, the Florida population increases by more than 5 percent due to snowbirds. When it is time to pack up and head south, you should think about the ways you can keep your house, yard, and belongings safe. Let WestAIR Heating & Cooling walk you through our 2023 snowbird checklist.

Winterize Your Home

It is safe to say that heading south for the winter is a dream, but you shouldn’t have nightmares about things that could go wrong with your Midwestern home. You should bask in the sun, enjoy the weather, and love life. If you plan to leave your house vacant for a few months, we want to give you a few tips on how to winterize your home.

  1. Turn off your water supply.
  2. Remove all food from your pantry so you won’t find new critters roaming around.
  3. Make sure to keep your house temperature at 55°F or warmer. You can install a smart thermostat to control the temperature of your house from your phone.
  4. Unplug all electronics and appliances.
  5. Have your heating system serviced by WestAIR Heating & Cooling.

Indoor Cleaning

Your house contains a lot of prized valuables and treasures. Tidying up indoors and performing routine maintenance will help deter criminals and keep your house safe. To prevent fires, make sure all fire alarms are working and have new batteries. Check to make sure all your windows and outside doors are locked and draw the shades. Arrange for someone to regularly come over and check on the house. We also recommend fully cleaning your house, removing all food, and emptying all garbage cans. You don’t need indoor trespassers, either (rats, spiders, etc.).

Outdoor Maintenance

Outdoor maintenance matters just as much as indoor maintenance. To keep your house safe, we suggest installing Wi-Fi-enabled smart cameras. These cameras will catch any suspicious activity and send an alert straight to your smartphone. You can also install a motion sensing floodlight to discourage potential criminals. Some other outdoor maintenance we suggest is to have a snow removal company plow and shovel for you. You should also clean and bring in any outdoor furniture. Make sure to drain all pipes, faucets, and outdoor hoses to prevent the water in them from freezing and expanding.

Tell the Neighbors

Communicating with family, neighbors, and friends is important when snowbirding. In order for your home to stay safe and intact, you should have a few people watching over it. Smart cameras work wonders, but not when you are thousands of miles away. Neighbors can watch for suspicious activity and pick up any mail or packages delivered while you are away. Family or friends can perform weekly checks to make sure the inside of your house is secure and tidy.

There are many positives to being a snowbird. For example, sunlight and warm weather can help improve your lung and heart health. There is no need to worry about straining your body while shoveling or snowplowing during a snowstorm. The warm weather helps to get you outside and spend time doing activities you love, such as walking, biking, and running. You also get the chance to explore a new town, try new things, and immerse yourself in a different culture.

If you follow our 2023 snowbird checklist, you won’t need to worry when you’re away because your house, yard, and belongings will be safe and sound. We can also help keep your home safe — by making sure your heating system is in great working condition. If you are looking to have your heating system serviced or for more snowbird tips, feel free to contact WestAIR Heating & Cooling.

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Holiday Home Safety Tips

Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

During the holiday season, it is hard to take your mind off of shopping, cleaning, cooking, buying gifts, and preparing the house for visiting relatives and friends. Another thing that should be added to that list is the safety of your house during this season. Décor, trees, candles, and unattended stoves are the top hazards during the holidays. Read along in our December blog as we discuss holiday home safety tips.

Worry-Free Tree

If caught on fire, real or fake Christmas trees will wreak havoc on your house during the holiday season. When purchasing a fake tree, make sure it is labeled nonflammable or fire-retardant. If real trees aren’t properly watered, they can catch fire and have your whole house up in flames in a matter of seconds. Below are some ways you can avoid Christmas tree fires.

  • Low heat producing lights – This will help to keep the tree from drying up
  • NEVER overload your electrical circuits near the tree
  • Always turn Christmas lights off inside and outside the house when going to bed or leaving the house
  • Water your tree
  • Keep your tree away from any heating source

Décor Galore

Hanging, draping, and setting up decorations is one of the many delights that come with the holiday season. When you start setting up for Christmas, make sure you are using nonflammable or fire-retardant decorations. Also, make sure not to set décor on your fireplace mantel or near it where it can catch fire. If you have small children, be sure to use unbreakable decorations. When it is time to start decorating the tree, use ornaments that are nonflammable. A Christmas tree is one of the deadliest fire starters during the holidays. If you really want glass, sharp, or ceramic ornaments, try hanging them towards the top of the tree so little hands or paws can’t reach them. Candles are another source of deadly fires during the winter season. Keep them away from furniture, wrapped gifts, curtains, and anything that could possibly catch ablaze.

Safe and Sound

Along with traveling, working, and not being home on the holidays come criminals ready to pounce any chance they can get. Be extra careful this winter; lock your doors, windows, and garages before you leave the house. To help prevent theft, you can also:

  • Leave a few lights on inside
  • Try to unload packages in your garage with the door closed
  • Watch what you are posting on social media
  • Add lights: motion sensor lights are your friend

With the holidays closing in on us, we are here to make sure you are taking the correct steps to protect your home. Nonflammable trees, fire-retardant décor, and home safety and security are only some of the ways to keep your house safe and sound during this season. WestAIR Heating & Cooling can install gas fireplaces, so there is less of a possibility that your tree or decorations go up in flames. You can contact us to learn more about different types of fireplaces and to discuss more home safety holiday tips. WestAIR Heating & Cooling also wants to wish you happy holidays. Stay safe and have fun.

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Six Tips to Reduce Your Heating Bill

Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Lower Your Heating Bill

Winter has arrived in full force, but that doesn’t mean you have to blast money from your wallet as you turn up the heat. WestAIR Heating and Cooling offers six easy ways to reduce your heating bill this winter and for years to come.

1. Control your Thermostat

Using a thermostat is an easy way to control your home temperature and maximize your savings. While you are away, set it 10 degrees cooler than your regular setting. So, if you feel comfortable at 69 degrees, you would program it to be 59 degrees while you’re at work or on vacation. Some newer thermostats have capabilities to be controlled by a phone app or website!

2. Insulate Windows and Walls

You can lose half of your heat if your home is not well insulated! Is your attic or basement insulated? If not, fill all the gaps with fiberglass insulation. If your windows are drafty, fill in the leaky spaces with caulk.

3. Look at those Ducts

Heat can leak right through your air ducts too. You can patch them with aluminum foil tape (not duct tape) and mastic sealant. First, clean the surface near any leak you find in your air ducts. The aluminum foil tape works best on flat surfaces. Mastic is for curved surfaces that would be difficult to tape. Use both for leaks bigger than a quarter-inch for extra protection!

4. Keep Up on Filters

Did you know that you should change your furnace filter each month? Not only will it let warm air flow freely, but it will reduce the need for costly repairs. Inexpensive fiber filters work fine, but standard pleated filters are better for airborne dust.

5. Take Care of your Furnace

Many people forget this step, but tune-ups are necessary for furnaces just like an oil change is for your car. Nobody wants to wake up shivering in the middle of the night because the furnace isn’t working properly. Although we do offer same-day and emergency service in case this happens, avoid breakdowns with a scheduled maintenance check. Take advantage of our current promotion and save $10 on any repair or service call.

6. Invest!

Sometimes you must kick your old furnace to the curb. If your repair costs more than 50 percent of the cost of a new furnace, or your monthly heating bills have significantly increased, you should most likely consider a replacement. Upfront costs may seem daunting, but today’s furnaces are more energy efficient and will save money in the long run. If you think it’s time to replace that old furnace of yours, we stand by Rheem heaters for quality. Rheem is a leading provider of top-quality, innovative heating products that offer the latest technology, lasting performance, great warranties, and excellent service and support. As a proud Rheem Pro Partner, our highly trained, licensed technicians can recommend a Rheem furnace or other heating product to best meet your needs.

Contact us to learn more about a furnace tune-up or questions!

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