Thursday, January 8, 2015

Metropolitan offers the following tips to stay warm and safe during this current cold snap



Metropolitan offers the following tips to stay warm and safe during this current cold snap:
·         Seal up openings around and under doors and windows.
·         Close and latch your windows.
·         Lower thermostats serving unused rooms.
·         Close dampers in unused fireplaces.
·         Move furniture and drapes away from heating registers, radiators, and baseboard element covers.
·         Remove or cover window air conditioners to reduce drafts. Install insulated or lined drapes on your windows.
·         Open your curtains and blinds that face the sun on sunny days to warm your home, and close them at night to keep the warm air inside.
·         Keep your garage door closed, if the garage is attached to the house.
·         Check for sufficient water levels in the sight glass for steam heating systems to ensure maximum efficiency.
·         Clean or replace the furnace filter on hot air heating systems.
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE
·         Be cautious when using space heaters. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions and heed warning labels. Be sure all members of the household understand how to operate space heaters safely.
·         Don't try to use a gas oven or range to heat a room - the appliance will deplete oxygen from the air, causing asphyxiation or deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) -- an invisible, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas -- is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States. Natural gas, oil, propane, coal or wood all produce CO.
·         The first line of defense against CO poisoning is to make sure all your fuel-burning appliances operate and are maintained properly. These appliances include gas and oil furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, space heaters, and gas clothes dryers. Improperly vented fireplaces and charcoal grills can also give off CO.
·         Invest in carbon monoxide detectors as back-up protection, not as a substitute for proper use and maintenance of the fuel-burning appliances. CO alarms can provide an early warning to consumers before CO builds up to a dangerous level. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends placing a carbon monoxide alarm in every area of the house. If just one alarm is installed, it should be placed near the sleeping rooms of the house. If you already have one, remember to check the batteries regularly.
·         Be safe around natural gas. If you smell a weak gas odor, check the pilot lights and burner valves on your gas appliances. Open doors and windows to let in fresh air. Call your utility company immediately. If the odor is strong, get out of the building immediately and call your utility company from a nearby phone. Do not use the phone in the building or any electrical equipment, including electric switches and thermostats, because they can make sparks and cause a fire. Do not use matches, or light a gas appliance. If you are outdoors and smell gas, call your utility company immediately.
KEEP YOUR GAS METER AND APPLIANCE VENTS CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE
You can help keep your natural gas supply flowing by keeping your meter free of snow and ice. If you are a natural gas customer whose gas meter is on the outside of your home or business, please take the following precautions:
·         Clear snowdrifts away from the meter and piping.
·         Do not pile snow on top of the gas meter or around its connecting piping when you are shoveling your premises.
·         Brush snow from the meter and piping before a thick layer of ice builds up.
·         Clear snow from dryer vents to prevent fumes from backing up into your house.