The First-Freeze Checklist for SLC Homeowners
Salt Lake weather has a funny way of making you think you still have plenty of time.
One day you're wearing shorts.
The next morning you're scraping ice off the windshield.
So before that first real freeze sneaks up on us, here's a quick list of things worth checking around your house.
1. Your outdoor faucets
Disconnect your garden hoses and check your exterior faucets.
Leaving a hose connected can trap water and create problems when temperatures drop.
2. Your irrigation system
If you have a sprinkler system, don't wait until temperatures are already freezing to think about winterization.
Salt Lake City Public Utilities recommends winterizing irrigation systems and backflow devices before the first frost to help protect pipes from breaks and leaks.
If you're not sure how to do it yourself, this is one of those jobs where calling someone who knows what they're doing can be money well spent.
3. Your garage
If you have plumbing running through an unheated garage, take a look before the really cold weather arrives.
Also check the garage door seal. A big gap at the bottom won't exactly help keep cold air where it belongs.
4. Your windows and doors
Feel around the edges.
If you can feel cold air coming through, now is a much better time to deal with it than when you're sitting on the couch in January wondering why your living room feels like a walk-in refrigerator.
5. Your thermostat
Make sure your heating system is actually working before you need it.
Turn the heat on and give it a test run.
This is also a good time to replace the furnace filter if it's due.
And one more thing...
Don't assume the first freeze will happen on your schedule.
Salt Lake City's first freeze can vary quite a bit from year to year—the historical record includes first fall freezes occurring as early as September 1 and as late as October 31.
So you don't have to panic and winterize your entire house tomorrow.
But you also don't want the first cold night of the season to be the thing that reminds you.
A little preparation now can save you a much colder—and potentially more expensive—surprise later.
That's your Hump Day Home Hack.
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