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New Homeowners Get Special Focus
HOME WARRANTY INDUSTRY SAYS 'WINTERIZING'
CAN BE ECONOMIC BOON TO HOMEOWNERS

VAN NUYS, CA, Jan. 8, 2002 -- California’s home warranty industry, with its substantial data base built from servicing hundreds of thousands of homes annually, is alerting homeowners to the substantial economic benefits of "winterizing" homes.

Noting that the type of winterizing initiatives homeowners can take may vary by region, officials of the Home Warranty Association of California (HWAC) also emphasized the need for new homeowners to be particularly alerted to winterizing.

"It's understandable that new homeowners may be unfamiliar with operating systems of homes until they have lived there awhile, just as one is unfamiliar with the bells and whistles on a new car. As they live in a house, these new homeowners can become more adept at winterizing," said Dan Langston, HWAC president.

Topping the list of measures suggested by HWAC is to be certain that your furnace filters are clean. A dirty filter can interfere with the free flow of air, leading to higher fuel costs, overheating and eventual shutdown. HWAC emphasizes that filters are an investment bargain, costing from just $3 to $6. It should be noted that warranty companies do not cover failures due to lack of maintenance.

Other winterizing tips offered by HWAC include:

• Making sure registers for central heating are open in all rooms. HWAC reports frequent service calls from homeowners complaining that some rooms are not getting warm air. The association also recommends making sure that registers are not blocked by drapes, curtains or furniture.
• Take measures to insulate cold water intake pipes to prevent potential freezing and even the cutting off of the water supply to the home. HWAC suggests purchasing pipe insulation, or even wrapping pipes with an ordinary cloth.
• Check to see that there are no gaps or holes in ducting, which result in energy waste. A symptom of this is the constant blowing of cold air into a room.
• Replace deteriorating weatherstripping. Over the years
  weatherstripping loses its capacity to block air. New energy conservation technologies have improved options for weatherstripping.
• Water Heater Settings. Set your water heater at low to medium. HWAC notes that most people set them at medium to high all year round. Hotter is not necessarily better.
• Keep your pool chemical balance current, and remember that during the rainy season you should not add as much water since overfilling may cause problems. Chemicals in the water can damage plants and ground cover.

" Winterizing your home can be a huge economic boon to homeowners because, for example, without it you may continually be re-heating your home unnecessarily," Langston said.

In this regard, officials of HWAC explained that the industry saves Californians over $100 million annually in repairs and replacements.

Typically a home warranty covers a home's major operating systems for one year after the close of escrow. Items covered include plumbing, heating and electrical systems, most-built-in appliances, and water heaters. In recent years, most HWAC member companies have provided additional coverage for homeowners for such items as garage door openers, washer/dryers and refrigerators.

HWAC is a statewide organization of home warranty companies representing over 95 percent of warranty contracts sold in California.

Member firms include American Home Shield Corporation, Buyers Home Warranty Company, Fidelity National Home Warranty Company, First American Home Buyers Protection, and Old Republic Home Protection Co., Inc.

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1/8/02