Winter storms can cause a power outage that leaves you in the cold and dark for hours or possibly days at a time. Being prepared for an outage can help you avoid some of the most uncomfortable consequences of cold indoor temperatures. When the weather forecasts warn you of an impending storm, consider the following to stay safe.
Have enough batteries to operate your flashlights and radios. Stock up on suitable candles or oil-burning lamps to illuminate a few living spaces. Always extinguish the candles or lamps before going to sleep. Keep them away from flammable materials.
Fill a bathtub with water. Use the water for toilet flushes and set aside water in clean containers for drinking. If the power is going to be out for hours or days, let faucets drip in the house to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Bring some firewood close to an exterior door if you have a hearth product to create additional heat. If you’re dependent on a furnace, hang heavy blankets over the windows and doors to retain as much heat inside a room as possible. Select one room to occupy to make the most of the remaining heat in your home. If you can’t stay warm, strongly consider staying with friends or using a local motel.
Stock up on groceries. During a power outage, you’ll have to be resourceful for heating the food, so having canned food in the pantry provides quick meals. Never use a barbecue inside your home to heat food. Small camping stoves or backpacking stoves are handy during a power outage to use briefly for heating food or beverages.
Layer your clothing to trap body heat better than a single, heavy garment.
Protect your computers, televisions and furnace from power surges or spikes when the electricity comes back on. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, or remember that you can use your car charger. Leave a light on, so you’ll know exactly when the power does come back on.
If you have any questions about how to weather a Connecticut power outage or any other HVAC issues, please contact us at Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about power outages and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.