Harvey W. Hottel, Inc.

Since 1945

• Residential Services
• Commercial Services
• Geothermal
• Engineering/Design Build

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Winterize Your Home

It's that time of year again! Although you may not want to admit it, the weather has begun to change and before you know it you will once again find yourself exchanging that summer shirt for a winter jacket. The fall and winter months in the mid-Atlantic region are extremely unpredictable and have the tendency to creep up on us. Whether you're resident of Bethesda, Maryland or Silver Spring, Maryland the cool months ahead will offer no mercy. As a homeowner there are certain responsibilities and tasks that must be met to ensure that your home is not affected by this year's harsh weather.

Throughout the spring and summer month's outdoor plumbing is utilized on a daily basis. Maybe you wash your car, water the grass, or use your faucet to cool off; whatever its use may be, we can almost guarantee that you won't be doing it during the fall and winter months. To avoid outdoor faucets from freezing locate the stop and waste valve in your home. Once you have located the valve make sure that is closed. Next, open up the small cap or screw on the side of the valve (petcock). To completely drain the valve, turn the faucet on from the outside and let the water completely drain from the system. If desired, caps can be purchased to plug your outdoor faucet. Also, if your water meter is found outside your home, it is a good idea to insulate it with straw. If your water meter is located in a pit, place straw around the meter in the pit to guarantee proper insulation.

As you may, or may not know, the mid-Atlantic is no stranger to cold weather. At times, winters can be so harsh that freezing may occur. The first thing on a hole to freeze is the plumbing. Coincidentally, this is the last thing that you want to freeze when it comes to your home. There are a variety of ways you can protect your pipes from freezing this winter. Firstly, if your pipes are located behind walls, there is no need to insulate them. The insulation pre-installed in the wall will be enough to keep the pipes from freezing. If in fact your pipes are not located behind a wall, you may consider utilizing some of that extra insulation you may have lying around your home. If you do not have any extra insulation, it can easily be purchased at your local hardware store. Insulation pre-cut for piping is also available but for a higher price. It is also possible to install an electric heating cable to your pipes. Heating cables are controlled by a thermostat and need not be monitored. If your pipes unfortunately do freeze, it is best to call a plumber. The staff at Harvey Hottel, Inc. is fully equipped to handle any complications caused by winter weather.

Regulating your home's water heaters can save you a lot of money over the course of the winter season. Many water heaters are set too high. Gas water heaters lose air through the flue that is attached to the tanks. Installation of a flue damper can not only optimize the performance of your heater but also save you money on your monthly bill. NEVER insulate your gas heater. Placing insulation around a water heater can cause gas to stay inside your home instead of circulating out of your heating system. Make sure items are completely removed from around your heater to ensure optimum safety.

Harvey Hottel is one of the largest plumbing/HVAC service companies in the mid-Atlantic Region. For over 60 years we have served Washington DC residents along with Howard, Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, and Montgomery County residents in Maryland. Additionally we also serve the residents located in the cities and towns of Kensington, Gaithersburg and Potomac MD. We are a full service residential plumbing and heating company ready to provide you with premium service to suite your needs during the fall and winter months. To schedule an HVAC service, take a moment to fill out our simple service form and we'll have an agent contact you. If you're interested in an annual HVAC maintenance contract, we offer a nice variety of choices to meet most any budget.