Winter weather emergencies, unfortunately, are not exactly rare in the Midwest, or in the Indianapolis area particularly. A storm front can bring high winds, ice and heavy snow, with power outages possible, if not likely. Here are some quick preparation tips for winter weather emergencies:
- Have plenty of alternative lights. Flashlights and candles can be invaluable during a power outage. With flashlights, you’ll obviously want to have batteries on hand. And you will need matches or a lighter for the candles. Make sure you have a phone charger in your car, since a cell phone can be your link to the outside world.
- Emergency food and water are essential. Stock up on canned and boxed foods, and keep several gallons of water in a safe place. Remember that you can use snow in coolers to keep food cold, if the power goes out to your refrigerator.
- Stock up on blankets. You never know how long an outage might last, and if it’s deep into winter, there’s a good chance the weather will be too cold to bear. To help keep warm, have plenty of blankets on hand.
- Utilize gas appliances for warmth. This is another way to keep your family warm. Safely vented gas appliances that don’t also rely on electricity (such as kerosene space heaters) will continue to operate during a power outage. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to fall back on your furnace, since they generally won’t operate without an electric-powered blower.
- Stay in one room as much as possible. Keep all of your family in the same room as much as possible. Your collective body warmth will help fight the cold as well.
- Avoid freezing pipes. If it gets cold enough, your pipes might freeze. You’ll want to wrap them in insulation, plus a layer of plastic to avoid moisture buildup. As a preventive measure, leave your faucets dripping when it stays cold for a prolonged period.
If you would like further assistance with winter weather emergencies, or for any questions regarding home comfort or saving energy, please contact us at Mowery Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing. We have been satisfying the HVAC needs of Indianapolis and the surrounding area for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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