Expert Tips to Prevent Winter Furnace and Plumbing Failures in Detroit
Heating companies across Michigan are swamped with distress calls. No heat is a common issue. Freezing temps strain home systems past their breaking points. Dan Palko, president of Family Heating,…
Heating companies across Michigan are swamped with distress calls. No heat is a common issue. Freezing temps strain home systems past their breaking points. Dan Palko, president of Family Heating, Cooling, & Electric Inc., explained how frigid air accelerates equipment failure.
"The colder it is, the faster our furnaces are breaking down and water tanks as well with groundwater being colder," Palko said, per Fox 2 Detroit. "You just gotta keep your eye on it and make sure you got well-maintained equipment."
Running water through taps prevents pipes from freezing solid. Adam Helfman, who runs the Hire it Done brand, said water in motion won't freeze, as per Fox 2 Detroit. Yes, this tactic inflates water bills, but it spares homeowners from crushing repair expenses.
Opening cabinet doors beneath kitchen sinks allows heat to circulate around pipes positioned near walls and windows. This straightforward action maintains pipe warmth and wards off freezing.
Covering windows with blinds reduces the speed of heat loss in homes. Glass surfaces are the thinnest sections of any house and chill first. Heat migrates toward the coldest zones, so covering windows keeps interior spaces warmer.
Homeowners can wrap exposed pipes with insulation products for added protection against cold snaps. These wraps create a barrier between the pipes and icy air.
Switching thermostat fan settings from "auto" to "on" can trim costs during winter months. Auto mode works best for energy savings in mild weather. But when furnaces cycle constantly to warm cooling homes, the "on" setting consumes less power.
Each time a heating system restarts, it demands a surge of energy that burns through more electricity than keeping the fan running continuously. This makes the "on" setting more economical when temperatures plummet.
Cold groundwater also triggers water heater failures more often in winter. Palko pointed out that well-maintained equipment survives longer during freezing conditions.
