How to Keep Your Home Safe in Sub-zero Weather

How to Keep Your Home Safe if Extremely Cold Temperatures Are Predicted

Prevent Freezing Pipes

• Ensure you and your family know how to shut off the water if pipes burst. The valve is often in the basement or crawl space in most single-family homes on a wall facing the street.
• Keep your home heated to a minimum of 65 degrees.

• Ensure all indoor faucets on exterior walls are set to have a very small trickle of combined hot and cold water running.

• Open vanity or cabinet doors on exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes under sinks.

• Insulate vulnerable pipes. Water pipes vulnerable to the cold, such as those along exterior walls and in unheated basements, should be insulated.

• If you have a garden hose, be sure it is disconnected from outdoor spigots.

• Make sure windows are closed and sealed correctly.

• Close garage doors and windows.

• Have a warm place for your pets.

And if You are Selling Your Home

• Make sure that even if you own a vacant property, that your thermostat is at least 60 degrees to ensure that the pipes won’t freeze.

• Be Safe While Outdoors

• Bundle up with many layers that cover your skin.

• Stay off icy areas as much as possible and exercise extreme caution.

• If you have a pet, keep an eye on them, as it can take less than 3 minutes for many breeds to experience cold shock at these lower temperatures, especially if they are young or small.

• Get ahead of the snow and purchase ice salt at your local department store to lay out on your porch and driveway.

• Make sure your windshield wipers on your cars are pulled up so they do not freeze and stick to your windshield.

Caution

• NEVER try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch – Use a hair dryer instead.

• NEVER run generators indoors.

• NEVER use a gas oven to heat your home.

• NEVER use gasoline to start your fireplace.

• NEVER burn charcoal indoors.