During
these cold winter months, most of us would prefer to sit inside
the house by a warm fire, sipping on hot chocolate. As
temperatures plummet and snow accumulates we would like to remind
you of some safety precautions and tips to follow
for a warm and comfortable winter:
Frozen Pipes
- Shut off and drain the water system before an extended
vacation and set the heat at no lower than 55
degrees.
- Insulate pipes near outer walls, in crawl spaces and in
the attic.
- In extreme cold weather, open cabinet doors and leave the
faucets dripping where pipes are located near exterior
walls.
- Never attempt to thaw pipes with a torch or any kind of
open flame. Use hot
water or a U-labeled device such as a hand held
dryer.
Water Claims
- Keep downspouts and gutters clean to prevent ice dams on
the roof.
- Make sure downspouts are directed away from the house to
prevent flooding from a heavy downpour or sudden
thaw.
Fire
- Turn off portable space heaters before going to sleep or
leaving the room.
- Keep chimney liners clean and have the mortar on brick
chimneys inspected regularly to be sure there are no cracks
where fire can wick through to the
framing.
- Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors.
- If there is a fire hydrant near your home, remove snow
from it and clear a 3-foot area to allow quick access for
firefighters.
Christmas Decorations
- If using a real tree, be sure and keep it well
watered. Dry
needles are highly combustible.
- Purchase longer extension cords rather than connecting
multiple cords. And
inspect cords regularly for cracks or hot
spots.
Personal Safety
- Never use unventilated propane heaters, charcoal
briquettes or gas ovens to heat your home. Doing so can be a source
of potentially toxic fumes.
- If using synthetic logs, follow the directions on the
package. Never
break apart a synthetic log or use more than one log at a
time. This causes
them to burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon
monoxide.
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways and use
sand for better
traction.
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