Staying safe and warm can be a challenge in extreme winter weather conditions. Here are some helpful tips on how to prepare your home to deal with ice, snow and extreme cold:
Prepare your house for cold weather.
Install a water pipe sleeve or heat tape to cover and insulate any exposed pipes and prevent freezing.
Disconnect water hoses from outdoor water faucets.
Shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets and open outdoor faucets to drain water in the line.
When extreme cold weather hits, open faucets to drip or trickle water and avoid freezing pipes.
Keep cabinets under sinks open to help keep pipes from freezing.
Clear leaves from gutters.
Maintain sidewalks and clear snow in compliance with local municipal rules.
Keep dryer vents and furnace exhaust clear of snow drifts.
Change HVAC filters regularly.
Protect yourself.
Stay home (don’t drive in icy conditions).
Stay indoors and stay warm.
Layer up with extra blankets, sleeping bags and winter coats.
Keep blankets and other flammable materials away from portable space heaters.
Don’t leave space heaters on when you sleep.
Keep personals items clear from heat sources such as furnaces and boilers.
Make sure fireplaces are properly venting outside and won't leak gas into your home.
Test your battery-operated smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.
Keep the heat inside by closing blinds and curtains and shutting doors to rooms.
Close any storm windows.
Stock up on essentials.
Stock up on 3 to 7 days worth of food and water
Keep a flashlight and extra batteries.
Prepare a battery-powered radio.
Prepare extra medicine.
Stock first-aid supplies.
Keep your food and water supply safe.
A fridge can keep food cold during an outage for about 4 hours. A freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours.
Fill coolers with ice, if necessary, to keep food from spoiling.
Some water purification systems may not function fully when the power goes out, the CDC warns . Check with local officials to make sure your water is safe – they should give you specific recommendations.
Generators and conserving power
Generators can release poisonous carbon monoxide if you use them inside your home! The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) advises keeping generators outside, about 20 feet away from your home.
Test your battery-operated smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector to ensure that their backup power source is working if there is a loss of electricity.
Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home, according to Ready.gov
Conserve power, if you still have it.
Unplug nonessential lights and appliances.
Don't use large appliances like ovens or washing machines.
Turn your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower – if too many people crank up the heat, the demand could trigger a blackout.
During the day, if it's sunny, open your blinds so the sun can heat your home, but close them at night to prevent losing heat.
Keep your pets warm.
Don't leave pets outside when it gets cold. Move pets into an indoor shelter where they'll stay warm. Know the signs of hypothermia.
Babies, older adults and unhoused people are the most vulnerable to hypothermia. Signs of hypothermia include confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness and stiff muscles in adults. Babies exhibit bright red skin and low energy, according to the CDC .
If you fear someone in your household has hypothermia, call for medical help. If help can't immediately arrive, you can warm up the affected person with blankets and an alternate heat source.
If you must leave your home, go somewhere warm.
Before you leave:
Close the water supply valve to the home
Set your HVAC thermostat to 66 degrees
Ask us for help.
If something breaks or you need any other kind of maintenance help, don’t hesitate to submit a service request through your handy Invitation Homes Maintenance app.
Editor’s Note: These suggestions are meant to be helpful but should not be considered your only options. Please use your best judgment. If you have questions at any time, please contact the appropriate authorities.
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