02/01/2022
*****Freezing Weather Alert*****
1.) Take care of your pipes. Lower the risk of damage to your home by wrapping your pipes and letting faucets drip throughout the house. Shut off exterior faucets and drain water from outdoor pipes to prevent them from bursting.
2.) Weatherstrip exterior doors and windows. Even the smallest cracks in doors and windows can let heat escape, making your heating system work that much harder.
3.) Check your water heater. The optimal working temperature for a hot water heater is 120°. Make sure yours is in proper working order by flushing your water heater tank and checking the pressure relief valve.
4.) Inspect your chimney for wear and tear. Be sure to also keep the chimney damper closed when it is not in use.
5.) Set your thermostat for energy efficiency. Set the thermostat to 68° while you’re awake and lower it while you sleep to save energy. If you have a smart thermostat, program it to adjust automatically.
Stock up on supplies.
Before it freezes, make sure you’re stocked up on these essentials:
Bottled water
Nonperishable food
Medications (prescription & over the counter)
First aid supplies
Toiletries
Pet food
Warm clothing
Batteries
Flashlights
Battery-operated radio
Solar-powered phone charger
Backup power solutions, including a generator and a portable power bank
Gasoline for cars and generators
Know where to go in case of long power outages.
If your home is vulnerable to extended power outages, or if members of your household have medical conditions that may worsen due to cold weather, make plans to evacuate to a safer location. It could be too dangerous to drive once freezing temperatures hit.
If you’re sheltering in place, close off unimportant areas of the house and stick to a few rooms to maximize heat retention.
Pack a bag of essential items, including a phone charger, clothing, socks, shoes, toiletries, cash and important documents (in a resealable plastic bag).
Get your car ready by filling up with gas, performing any necessary maintenance, checking and replenishing all fluids, replacing your windshield wipers and filling your tires with air.
Keep emergency phone numbers in multiple places and ensure everyone in the family knows what to expect if the power goes out.
