When Arctic air settles in, your home must work overtime to keep you warm, safe and protected. A little preparation now can help you avoid frozen pipes, no heat emergencies and unexpected winter headaches. Use these essential tips to help make life stress-free and more comfortable when winter hits hard.

Heating and home comfort

• Keep heat flowing – make sure that vents, radiators and baseboards are clear so warm air can circulate efficiently.
• Maintain your heating system – replace or clean your air filter to help your system run smoothly and reduce strain.
• Use space heaters safely – if you must use them keep them at least three feet from anything flammable and plug them directly into a wall outlet.
• Know who to call in an emergency – keep utility, fuel delivery and other important numbers handy and easy to find.

Pipe and plumbing protection

• Keep water moving – let faucets drip slightly during extreme lows to help prevent frozen pipes.
• Warm up exposed plumbing – open cabinet doors on exterior walls to let warm air reach pipes.
• Insulate vulnerable areas – add pipe insulation to basements, crawl spaces and unheated rooms to reduce freeze risk.

Home access and safety

• Remove snow and ice around your driveway or fill pipe area – so fuel delivery drivers and utility teams can reach your home safely.
• Improve visibility in deep snow – mark your fill area with a stake or flag if snow is high or visibility is low.
• Check carbon monoxide detectors – ensure alarms are working and replace batteries if needed as carbon monoxide increases during extreme cold.

Power and preparedness

• Keep devices and backup power charged – charge phones, flashlights, battery packs, backup generators and essential devices ahead of storms or extreme cold.
• Prepare for potential outages – have flashlights, blankets and a small supply of bottled water in an easy to reach spot.
• Protect your thermostat – make sure your thermostat has fresh batteries so it doesn’t fail during a cold snap.
• Seal drafts and heat loss – check windows and doors for drafts and use weatherstripping or towels to keep warm air inside.

We’re here when you need us – 24/7!

If your heating system stops working or you’re dealing with a winter emergency, just reach out. Our local team is ready day and night to keep your home safe and warm. You can also visit us on social media for more helpful tips, updates and cold weather alerts.

For even more tips on preparing for the cold weather and saving money read this article >

Check out our managing your heating bill infographic >