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Prepare For Frigid Temps

Prepare For Frigid Temps

  • Posted by Barrington Hills
  • On January 29, 2019

Tuesday through Thursday–January 29th through January 31st–we will experience temperatures and wind chills that–homes in our area–heating systems have never experienced. Heating systems are NOT designed for -20 to -30-degree temperatures with wind chills into -40 and up to -50+. Homes will struggle to maintain temperature & the temperature WILL drop inside your home while the heating system is working at full capacity.

You need to take a few steps before the deep-freeze starts and also be diligent to protect your home over the next few days.

  1. Raise the temperature in your home on Monday night, 2 to 4 degrees above your normal setting. Get the core of your house warmer because it’s going to drop no matter what over the next couple of days.
  2. Take all programmable thermostats out of setback mode and set on a permanent HOLD of 72-74 degrees until Friday. 
  3. If you have a furnace; replace the filter. MAKE SURE your filter is CLEAN or new. 
  4. Keep garage doors closed; limit opening exterior doors.
  5. Make sure air vents and radiators are not blocked or obstructed by furniture or curtains. 
  6. If you have a 90%+ furnace, You must keep the exterior intake and exhaust clear of ice and snow. During these cold temperatures, ice can build up. A 90%+ furnace and/or boiler will have 2 white PVC pipes; an exhaust pipe and an intake pipe that are generally on the side or back of your home.

AVOID FROZEN PIPES

  • The faucet furthest away from your water meter, leave on a slow trickle to avoid pressure building up within the pipes.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air near water pipes.
  • WHIRLPOOL bathtubs. If you have a whirlpool tub with a tile deck built around it, locate the access panel and leave it open for the next few days. This will allow warm air to circulate under your tub and around the water pipes
  • Locate your main water shut off valve in your basement. If you do experience a burst water pipe, it will be extremely important to be able to turn the water off quickly.