As featured on KCCI 8 News
Winter is knocking on the door in central Iowa. We’ve already had a few light freezes this fall, but a hard freeze is a different story. That’s when temperatures stay below 28 degrees for several hours, and it’s when small problems around the house turn into big, expensive ones.
This week, Lazer Home Services owner Bob Kamin sat down with KCCI 8 News to talk about how homeowners can get ahead of the cold. His advice was simple: most of the winter service calls we run could be prevented with a few minutes of work.
“Those three little things are like 75% of the service calls we run,” Bob told KCCI.
Watch the full KCCI story here.
Here are the three things Bob recommends doing before the next cold snap.
1. Disconnect your outdoor hoses
A hose left connected to an outdoor spigot traps water inside the faucet. When that water freezes, it expands and can crack the pipe inside your wall. You often won’t know until spring, when you turn the water back on and find a leak in your basement.
What to do: Unhook every garden hose, drain it, and store it inside. If your home has an indoor shut-off valve for outdoor faucets, turn it off and open the outside spigot to let any remaining water drain out.
2. Replace your furnace filter
When it’s in the 50s and 60s, your furnace barely breaks a sweat. Once temperatures drop into the 20s, it runs longer and harder, and that’s when a dirty filter causes trouble. A clogged filter chokes airflow, makes your furnace work harder, and can cause it to overheat and shut down.
What to do: Check your filter now. Most 1-inch filters should be replaced every 1 to 3 months during heating season. Write the date on the edge of the new filter so you know when you changed it.
3. Check your carbon monoxide detector batteries
Your furnace runs more in winter, and your windows stay shut. That makes a working carbon monoxide (CO) detector more important than at any other time of year. CO has no smell or color, so your detector is your only warning.
What to do: Test each CO detector and replace the batteries. Make sure you have one on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. If a detector is more than 7 to 10 years old, replace the whole unit.
Why the first cold snap matters
As Bob explained to KCCI, the first stretch of truly cold weather is when everything that’s been quietly wearing out finally shows itself. A furnace pushed hard for the first time all year can expose a weak part, an electrical issue, or a component that’s been on its last legs.
That’s why a furnace tune-up before the deep cold sets in is one of the smartest things you can do. A Lazer technician will clean and inspect your system, check safety controls, and catch small issues before they leave you without heat on the coldest night of the year.
A few more ways to protect your pipes
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
- On the coldest nights, let faucets on exterior walls drip slightly.
- Keep your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher, even if you’re traveling.
- Know where your main water shut-off is in case a pipe does burst.
Lazer is here when you need us
For 25 years, Des Moines families have trusted Lazer Home Services to keep their homes warm, safe, and running smoothly. If something doesn’t seem right with your furnace or plumbing, or you’d like a tune-up before the hard freeze, give us a call.
Call (515) 212-6042 or schedule online
Want year-round peace of mind? Ask about the Lazer Family Plan for $19 a month.