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treestar

(82,383 posts)
67. Calls for bullet points rather than one huge paragraph
Sun Jan 5, 2014, 01:54 PM
Jan 2014

Set your thermostat a few degrees higher to build up some warmth BEFORE the extreme temperature arrives. You can expect your furnace to run constantly until the outside temperature returns to a seasonal average. Your furnace is designed to keep your home comfortably warm for average weather conditions.

The extreme weather that we are expecting will cause your furnace to work its hardest. It may not keep your inside temperature to the set-point because of the huge temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. You may need to put on a few more layers until the extreme weather is over. (Layering covers on your bed will keep you warmer at night also.)

For Heat Pumps: Please do NOT switch your thermostat to the Emergency Heat setting. It will turn off the outdoor unit and provide less heat. Shut the registers in unused rooms only if they do not have plumbing. Close the doors to those rooms also.

Close the dampers on your fireplace only if it is NOT in use. Use towels at the base of your outside doors to lessen the entry of cold air.

Keep your garage door closed. If you have plumbing in the garage, provide heat to that area if possible.

Close your crawlspace vents and access holes.

Open cabinet doors for all plumbing fixtures located on the outside wall. Leave the water running in a small stream when plumbing fixtures are located on an outside wall.

NOTE: If you are leaving for an extended period of time, turn the water off to your home and shut off the power supply to the water heater.

If your washer is located on an outside wall, add a small amount of anti-freeze to the trap and monitor it while in use during this extreme cold. Locate your water shut-off valve now in case you experience a burst pipe.

PASS IT ON!

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Recommended. Pass it on!!! NYC_SKP Jan 2014 #1
Good advice mythology Jan 2014 #2
and don't take this information lightly Berlum Jan 2014 #3
That is very, very sad. Squinch Jan 2014 #17
I don't know... DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #23
A burst sprinkler system? Owl Jan 2014 #26
water leak form the interior (see insulation hanging) elehhhhna Jan 2014 #31
Automatic icemaker did this to us once when we were on vacation. Flooded kitchen, LuckyLib Jan 2014 #33
We've had enough close calls that when we go on vacation Mariana Jan 2014 #39
I do the same thing. NutmegYankee Jan 2014 #63
We do that, too. murielm99 Jan 2014 #69
I agree. I live in Alaska and fear for all of you. You MUST LISTEN TO THE INFO ON roguevalley Jan 2014 #36
Very good advice! Thank you! peacebird Jan 2014 #38
in a whire out it will save your life take care honey roguevalley Jan 2014 #40
In Canada, for kids that take the bus to school, RC Jan 2014 #58
Anyone north of Atlanta... greytdemocrat Jan 2014 #4
Excellent advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t RKP5637 Jan 2014 #5
Thank you for posting this very good advice. I would add: truedelphi Jan 2014 #6
Yep. I had a heater catch fire two weeks ago. progressoid Jan 2014 #8
Glad you were there when it happened. truedelphi Jan 2014 #9
A space heater is what caused the fire that took out much of Fifth Third Ballpark catbyte Jan 2014 #12
Yikes! Thinking of the Firefighters who had to respond, in all truedelphi Jan 2014 #35
What made things worse was the sprinkler system was disabled because they were catbyte Jan 2014 #37
Don't forget to check your fire extinguisher(s). I checked my this afternoon and madinmaryland Jan 2014 #20
I remember the winter he's talking about too (20+ years ago). Shandris Jan 2014 #7
We have a bathroom faucet that alwas freezes when it gets to -20ºF Jackpine Radical Jan 2014 #10
When I remodeled the house I'm sitting in right now... Kaleva Jan 2014 #22
We have done some remodeling over the last few years. murielm99 Jan 2014 #70
Many people who remodel just do the cosmetic stuff and skip the important improvements. Kaleva Jan 2014 #71
k&r... spanone Jan 2014 #11
K & R democrank Jan 2014 #13
Thanks and shared! nt babylonsister Jan 2014 #14
You're a better friend than I, b'sis! elleng Jan 2014 #16
KICK! Cha Jan 2014 #15
This company deserves recognition. The tips they provided are a great PSA, panader0 Jan 2014 #18
likely will earn them more business... handmade34 Jan 2014 #27
Thanks for this post. Having trouble figuring out: Paper Roses Jan 2014 #19
Try shutting off the valves under the sink jeff47 Jan 2014 #30
If you have extra quilts, put them up on the windows.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2014 #21
Thus the term 3 Dog Night PeoViejo Jan 2014 #59
Don't forget your washer hoses. passiveporcupine Jan 2014 #24
K & R n/t DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #25
Very important information about the antifreeze recomendation jeff47 Jan 2014 #28
Very good point. If you have pets and drip the wrong one on the floor, it will be a disaster! GreenPartyVoter Jan 2014 #32
heat tape is your friend... handmade34 Jan 2014 #29
When I was growing up in Indiana, we had a week of sub-zero temps EVERY January BlueStreak Jan 2014 #34
How do I locate my water shut-off valve? Jim Lane Jan 2014 #41
Jim Lane, I suggest you ask these important questions in a separate post, elleng Jan 2014 #42
Your boiler is a pressurized system so shutting off house water shouldn't affect it. Kaleva Jan 2014 #47
It should be next to your water meter. NutmegYankee Jan 2014 #61
This is your homes SCVDem Jan 2014 #43
They are deep enough to be below the frost line. NutmegYankee Jan 2014 #62
I live in Southern California and it's frikking COLD outside!! nikto Jan 2014 #44
If I may add, also worried for any pets left outside and for the life long demo Jan 2014 #45
Good to know. blkmusclmachine Jan 2014 #46
Pets need extra attention, too! Don't forget our furry friends! Major Hogwash Jan 2014 #48
I'm curious: does anyone do anything different Ilsa Jan 2014 #53
Great advice debunkthis Jan 2014 #49
Any wood heating: use a Carbon MONOXIDE detector. Don't burn anything else. Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2014 #50
K and R. Nt MaeScott Jan 2014 #51
And take care of your fur babies! Enthusiast Jan 2014 #52
wish u folks well allan01 Jan 2014 #54
For anyone who goes camping...if you have any sleeping bags stashed with your camping supplies.. truth2power Jan 2014 #55
If you have some exposed pipes... Blanks Jan 2014 #56
I too got this message from my HVAC guy. seabeckind Jan 2014 #57
kinda waiting for it to happen PatrynXX Jan 2014 #60
Thanks, elleng! Demeter Jan 2014 #64
two words .... passive solar rickford66 Jan 2014 #65
Sounds great. elleng Jan 2014 #66
Calls for bullet points rather than one huge paragraph treestar Jan 2014 #67
k and r niyad Jan 2014 #68
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