LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the calendar flips from November to December, the cold temperatures are coming along in the Louisville area. And local a expert said when thinking about winterizing your home, it's better to prevent a problem than wait until there is one.
Turning on sinks when temperatures dip below freezing — and stay there for at least four hours at a time — can prevent pipes from freezing.Â
"We don't want it on full blast. That's way too much," said Jamason Welker with Bryant Heating & Cooling, as he turned a sink on to drip. "We want to turn it down to where it almost feels like it's not going to run at all."
He said doing this extra step isn't going to cost people like they may think.
"Honestly, it's going to cost you way less than the repair that could come from a busted pipe," he said.
Opening cabinet doors under the sinks can help, too, Welker added.
"It gets heat into the cabinets and actually makes a big difference with the pipes underneath the sinks and everything," he said.
Bryant Heating & Cooling also recommends regular check-ups on home furnaces.Â
Welker said the best tip for the thermostat is to "set it and forget it" to help save some cash. He mentioned it's best to not let the home get cooler than 55 degrees.
"We like to try to set it at 68," Welker said. "If that's not too warm for you, it seems to be the best for the home. But never below 55."
Safety while heating homes is also key. The Louisville Division of Fire has these five tips:
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet way from a furnace, fireplace or space heater
- Never use the oven to heat the home
- Have heating equipment cleaned and inspected each year by a professional
- Test smoke alarms monthly
- Turn off portable heaters before going to bed or leaving a room
Bryant also recommends to turning off spigots outside and making sure the home is well insulated this time of year.
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