With the crisp nights settling in over Danbury and the first frosts actually arriving across Fairfield County, most folks know to flip their thermostat over to heat. Cold weather readiness doesn't stop at the furnace door, though.
Dropping temps, the heavy autumn rains and seasonal storms all put a strain on every system in the house. Outdoor spigots are going to be under stress from the potential for sudden freezes, and the electrical panels are going to be under stress from the sudden spike in demand from space heaters and auxiliary systems. You've got to look at the whole picture to get ahead of the cold.
Not Just the Furnace
Now that Carmine's has teamed up with GEM, Danbury homeowners have one reliable team to look after their heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical. Use this full home checklist to ensure your property is fully protected before the cold weather really sets in.
Part 1: Heating... Lock In Efficiency Before the Deep Freeze
Your heating system has been sitting since spring. Before it starts running 24/7 you need to make sure it's clean and safe to operate.
- Replace the blower air filter. A clogged filter will restrict system airflow, increase your utility bills and can trip the high limit switches, which will cause your furnace to shut down. Start the season off with a fresh, high efficiency filter.
- Check the supply and return vents. As you go through each room make sure area rugs, heavy drapes or furniture that's been moved isn't blocking the airflow.
- Schedule Combustion & Heat Exchanger Testing (for oil & gas furnaces and boilers) where a certified technician will inspect the heat exchanger for hairline cracks which could be leaking CO and verify that the burner is combusting correctly.
Part 2: Plumbing... Freeze Prevention & Storm Defense
Frozen pipes bursting and basement water damage are two of the most expensive cold weather emergencies that a New England homeowner can face. A bit of prevention in October can save you thousands in repair bills later on.
- Disconnect and drain your garden hoses. If an outdoor hose is left attached to an exterior spigot it will trap water in the sillcock valve. When that water freezes (i.e. when the temperature drops below 32°F) it will expand and crack the pipe inside your wall.
- Shut off the interior shut off valves (if your house has them) and open the outside spigots to drain all the water out completely.
- Test the sump pump. Autumn storms and the early winter thaws will see high groundwater. Pour a bucket of water into your sump pit to make sure the float switch activates immediately and the water discharges freely away from the foundation.
- Flush the water heater: cold groundwater causes the water heater to have to work harder. Flushing out the sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank will restore heat transfer efficiency and will prolong the life of the unit.
Part 3: Electrical... Handling the Winter Load
As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, your home's electrical system is going to be under considerable extra load. Carmine's expanded electrical team would recommend you check the following:
- Inspect your electrical panel. If you have any electric heat pumps, space heaters or heated driveways then your panel needs to be able to cope with the load (i.e. not trip breakers). Look out for buzzing, hot breakers and corrosion.
- Service your standby generator. Power outages from the early autumn nor'easters and the wet snowstorms are fairly common in western CT. Test run the generator, check the oil and make sure your transfer switches work properly.
- Install whole-home surge protection. Lightning strikes are only one cause of electrical surges (though they're the most obvious) and of course there are surges caused by grid fluctuations during winter storms, which can destroy sensitive electronics, fry heat pump motherboards and blow smart appliances. A panel mounted surge protector will protect the whole house.
- Check the GFCIs: Test all the GFCI outlets in the kitchen, the bathroom, the basement and on the exterior walls by pressing the Test and Reset buttons to ensure the shock protection is working.
One Call Covers Your Entire Home
Rather than having to juggle separate contractors for your heating, plumbing and electrical needs this season, Carmine's brings the full range of home protection to your driveway in one visit.
Backed by the expanded resources and fleet of GEM Plumbing & Heating, our local Danbury, technicians come to you with fully stocked trucks, flat rate pricing (up front) and the speed you need to be comfortable all winter.
Get your home winter ready today. Call Carmine's Danbury office directly at 203-791-8089 or book your full home seasonal inspection online!
When faced with a plumbing emergency, you are going to have to pay the labor costs plus the parts to repair your plumbing. Unfortunately, the parts associated with some repairs can be very costly.
Another important aspect of your plumbing is maintenance. Whether it is maintenance on your pipes, water heater, or even your furnace, maintenance is crucial for a well-working system.
The last thing any homeowner wants to deal with is an 
During the heat of the summer, your grass and yard need some attention and water.
If you’re watering your garden or filling up a watering can think about using the hose to start a water fight with your kids.
This June 21st might be the perfect time to start a family water balloon fight tradition.
If you have hard water, you'll know it by the difference in the texture of your skin, hair, and even laundry! Hard water contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other hard minerals, which can dry out your skin, making it feel itchy or irritated, and hair, making it feel brittle and lack shine.
The most important thing you should know about 
The only way to get rid of hard water for good is to install a whole-house water softener. Salt-based ion exchangers are the most common type of water softener on the market, and they only need to be maintained about once or twice a year.
The first thing you’ll need to do before replacing any sink is research what kind of sink you want to install.
Once you’ve researched all of your (virtually endless) options, it’s time to take a look at the costs of those options and compare the value of some sinks over others.
The people who work at the plumbing store presumably know more about sink plumbing than you do, so they can help you come to a decision about what you need and what you can pass on in a sink.