Valentine’s Day Home Love: Winter Maintenance Tips for NH Homes

Valentine’s Day is usually about taking care of the people you love. But the idea behind it—care, protection, and follow-through—translates surprisingly well to homeownership.

In Southern New Hampshire, mid-February is when homes take the most punishment. Heating systems are running hard, plumbing is exposed to deep cold, and electrical panels are carrying heavy winter loads. The problems we respond to this time of year rarely start as emergencies. They start as small issues that go unnoticed until they become expensive.

If you want a practical way to “show your home some love,” focus on four high-impact checks: annual maintenance, hidden leaks, thermostat accuracy, and a safe electrical panel inspection.

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Why these reminders matter in February

Home maintenance can feel like a grudge purchase—money spent on things you can’t show off. But in our experience, preventative work is one of the best returns you can get on your home.

Here’s why:

• Emergency repairs often cost significantly more than scheduled service because of after-hours labor and urgent parts sourcing.
• Small failures create collateral damage—water stains become mold, minor electrical overheating becomes a breaker failure, airflow issues become premature furnace wear.
• Winter is unforgiving. In New Hampshire, a few hours without heat can turn a comfort problem into frozen pipes.

This is less about romance and more about protecting your biggest asset.

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1) Schedule annual maintenance

Annual maintenance isn’t about “checking a box.” It’s about keeping your mechanical systems efficient, safe, and predictable—especially in the back half of winter.

What annual heating maintenance actually protects you from

A good tune-up isn’t just cleaning. It’s about confirming the system is operating within safe and efficient ranges.

Common issues caught during maintenance include:

• airflow restrictions that overheat components
• small ignition or combustion problems that become no-heat calls later
• worn parts that fail under peak load

Even when nothing is “wrong,” maintenance helps preserve efficiency. A system that’s running dirty or out of calibration can quietly waste fuel all winter.

If your heating system hasn’t been checked this season, February is a smart time. You’ve already put months of runtime on it, and you still need it to carry you into spring.

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2) Check for hidden leaks

Water damage is one of the most expensive and most preventable categories of home repair. The challenge is that leaks don’t always show up where they start.

The simplest high-confidence test: the water meter check

1. Turn off everything that uses water (including ice makers and humidifiers).
2. Look at your water meter’s low-flow indicator (often a small triangle or dial).
3. If it moves while nothing is on, you likely have a leak.

If you want to narrow it down further:

• Shut off the main water valve inside your home.
• If the meter still moves, the leak may be in the buried service line outside.

A quick toilet check that saves real money

Toilets can leak silently from the tank into the bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, wait 20 minutes without flushing, and check the bowl. If color appears, the flapper is leaking.

That kind of small leak can waste thousands of gallons over time—and you’ll pay for it without realizing why.

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3) Test your thermostat accuracy

Your thermostat is the control center for the entire heating system. If it’s off by even a couple degrees, you can end up overheating the house (wasting fuel) or underheating rooms (increasing freeze risk in colder areas).

A simple accuracy test

• Tape a reliable thermometer next to the thermostat.
• Put a layer of paper towel behind the thermometer so it isn’t reading the wall temperature.
• Wait 15–20 minutes.
• Compare readings.

If the difference is more than about 1°F consistently, you’re likely losing efficiency and comfort.

One important note: sometimes the thermostat isn’t “bad”—it’s just in a bad spot. Direct sunlight, drafts, or heat from nearby electronics can skew readings. If you have chronic hot/cold areas, placement may be part of the issue.

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4) Inspect your electrical panel safely

Winter loads push electrical systems harder—space heaters, heat pump auxiliary heat, sump pumps, and more. You can do a safe inspection without opening the panel.

What to look and listen for

Stand in front of the panel and check for:

• buzzing, sizzling, or crackling sounds
• a burning-plastic odor
• visible rust or moisture staining
• scorch marks or discoloration on the cover

If you notice any of these, stop and call a professional. Electrical issues are one area where “wait and see” is a risky strategy.

Also: space heaters should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet—never an extension cord or power strip.

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Your February Home Love plan

This week

• Replace your heating system filter (if you can access it safely)
• Run the toilet dye test
• Do a quiet water meter leak check overnight

This month

• Verify thermostat accuracy
• Do a no-touch panel inspection (listen and smell)
• Schedule annual maintenance if you haven’t yet

Ongoing through winter

• Keep the house at least 55°F if you travel
• Open sink cabinets on exterior walls during deep cold
• Disconnect hoses and protect exterior plumbing

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If you want help prioritizing what matters most in your home

At Al Terry Plumbing & Heating, we’ve spent 50 years working inside the same types of homes you live in—Colonials, capes, raised ranches, and newer construction across Southern New Hampshire. If you want an honest look at what should be addressed now versus what can wait, call 603-485-4205.

If you prefer staying ahead of breakdowns with routine service and priority scheduling, ask about our Diamond Club membership when you call.