Even in LA We Must Winterize
In Southern California it’s easier to forget to winterize your home each year, because it doesn’t always seem like winter here. If you live in Minnesota, you kind of have to remember, because the cold won’t let you forget! Here, though, it’s always spring-like, and so it doesn’t seem as important to do our yearly maintenance checks for our home.
Of course, yearly maintenance for our homes is important, as it’s always a good idea to protect your largest investments, and your home is definitely a large investment.
One more area of attention that many homeowners overlook is their water heater.
How many of us flush our water heater every year, as recommended? Not many I’m guessing.
So, having a hot water heater break during the summer is inconvenient, but having one break during the winter is much more uncomfortable. A cold shower when it is 100 degrees outside is invigorating. A cold shower when it is 45 dedgrees outside can be almost life changing. Unless you are a proud member of the Polar Bear Club. I’m not a fan of cold water.
So we suggest that annual preventative maintenance be done to ensure you don’t become an “honorary” member of the Polar Bear Club.
Get your water heater flushed to remove sediment. Have the pipes and gas line checked for corrosion or loose fittings. And if you have not already done so, have it properly strapped to meet earthquake codes. And while we have earthquakes involved in this conversation, go ahead and have a seismic gas shutoff valve installed on your gas meter. This will shut off the gas in the event there is an earthquake, but it is easily re-set as well.
Once you have done these things, you will have a level of comfort knowing that you have done what you could to prevent what might be merely inconvenient, but could also be catastrophic.
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That’s great advice Scott. Thanks!
A side note to my original post.
As I left my house this morning at 8AM to take my daughter to school, we noticed that our front yard was covered with frost. This was the first frost of the season. The thermometer in my car said the outside temp was 39f, so it was probably in the low 30’sf during the night.
We were very glad that the heater for the house was back in service again.
Chilly Willy for Southern California. Brr….
Get those systems checked and serviced before winter is upon us in full force.
Great info Scott…didn’t know about flushing the water heater!
Well, yesterday morning it was 34f at my house at 8:00am. My car was covered with about 1/4inch of ice and the yard was completely frosted. There was ice on the roads, too.
Have I mentioned how glad I am that the furnace is working?
Excellent, I will remember to flush.
I’ve never heard of the Polar Bear Club. Although I’m in total agreement that this is, indeed, a great post. I for one, will not be signing up to become a member,
honorary or otherwise!