For many of us, winter weather has arrived or is on its way. As always, our customers’ safety is top of mind. Here are some important practical steps you can take to help protect your property during extreme cold weather if you’re going to be away or if you lose power.
Before you leave home:
- Turn faucets on to a trickle: This will help prevent pipes from freezing. If needed, wrap pipes in towels or newspaper.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Close blinds to keep in the heat.
- Set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees.
- Keep your garage door closed.
- Close off unused rooms with no plumbing to avoid wasting heat.
If you lose power, in addition to taking the above actions:
- Check your electrical panel breakers and make sure you haven’t simply tripped a circuit.
- Minimize opening and closing your refrigerator to keep perishables fresh.
- Unplug expensive electronics and appliances to prevent damage from power surges once power is restored.
- Don’t use your gas stove to provide heat. Deadly odorless carbon monoxide can build up in your home. Gas and wood-burning fireplaces both emit carbon monoxide. Make sure you have a functioning carbon monoxide detector.
- Don’t bring your generator inside. It should remain at least 30 feet from your home.
We’re here to help. Additional tips are linked below.
Thank you for your business, and please stay safe
