Freezing temperatures have arrived once again, and with them we remind everyone of their responsibility to adequately heat their unit. Failure to provide adequate heat can result in frozen/burst pipes and extensive damage to your unit, your neighbour’s units and common areas, and leave you financially responsible for the resulting losses and repair work. Please take the time to consider and implement the following when your unit is vacant.
- Keep your PTAC unit on and switched to “heat” at a low temperature. This unit is the primary source of heat for the central area of your unit so do not unplug it. Some PTAC models have a freeze protection feature, but it is highly recommended you do not rely on this feature as an alternative to the unit being on and the thermostat set low.
- Keep all your electric baseboard heaters on and set low. In the event of a PTAC failure (or vice-versa for that matter) having both systems on could prevent freezing temperatures, at least until the failure is discovered. Turn the thermostat knob on each baseboard heater counter clockwise until it you feel it click (it has tripped on at current room temperature), then turn it back 1/8 to 1/4 turn to set it low.
- Have someone routinely check on your unit. If you do not have a friend, neighbour or such who would do so there are paid services available in the area to do this. Depending on your property insurance provider there will be a maximum number of days your unit can remain vacant without being checked.
Thank you for your diligence in keeping yourselves and your neighbours protected from the perils of frozen pipes!
The Peaks of Radium, BC 