Heating emergencies happen in our area every year. But you don’t have to be “out in the cold” if you have to experience one. These useful, preventative tips will keep your household safe, comfortable, and peaceful during the cold nights ahead. The cold nights are here—and came sooner than we’d like. In November, our average highs are in the upper 30s and our average lows are in the lower 20s.
No one should have to suffer through the cold nights. These tips and suggestions should properly prepare you to stay warm no matter what the cold nights throw at you. Preventative actions and preparation are easy!
- Assemble A Heating-Emergency Kit
- Find a Local, Reliable, 24-Hour Emergency Heating Service
- Maintain Your Furnace with Annual Tune-Ups
Get prepared.
Heating-Emergency Kit
Assembling a few items, you probably already have around your home, into an easily accessible kit is easy, cheap, and hassle-free during a heating-emergency. Once you’ve assembled all the necessary items, keep them together in a box or container that can be accessed quickly when needed. Keeping all of these items together will help get your home warm again faster, keep your household more comfortable, and give you peace of mind should such an emergency arise. Let the members of your household know where the Heating-Emergency Kit is stored, so you all can be prepared. Creating and discussing a heating-emergency plan can define expectations, describe procedures, and prepare your household for such a crisis.
You will need to:
1. Program our phone number in your cell right now.
We are a great local, reliable, 24-Hour heating service provider! When you program our number in to your cell phone, you can feel confident that you will be able to reach us anytime you have an emergency. We want to make sure you are safe, comfortable, and stress-free. This is our job, and we are good at it. Program us in your phone today, and let us take care of you in your time of need.
Contact: Neighborhood Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning
Number: (888) 548-9932
2. Store spare batteries for your thermostat.
Check your thermostat now to see which type of batteries you need. Keep twice as many as needed for your device. For example: if your thermostat requires three AAA batteries, then keep six AAA batteries in your kit. If your heating system fails, you can check to make sure it is getting power. A faulty thermostat can be a sign that you need a furnace repair service. If dead batteries were the problem, your new batteries should solve it and your home will be heated again in no time.
3. Include matches or a lighter in case your furnace’s pilot light has gone out.
— Never spark a match or lighter if you smell gas! —
If You Smell Gas:
– Get everyone out of the house.
– DO NOT use the telephone, a flashlight, or any electrical switches.
– GO to a neighbor’s house and call your gas service provider. (Program your gas service provider’s phone number in your cell phone, now.)
If there is no smell of a gas leak and the pilot has gone out, then the matches or lighter can help you relight it and get your house back to warming as soon as possible.
4. Keep extra furnace filters for your specific furnace on hand (2 recommended).
Furnace filters can become so dirty from doing their job, that they prevent airflow. Frequent maintenance can prevent furnace repairs. Check your furnace filter often. If it needs changing, change it. The air should begin to flow once more and your home will soon become warm and comfortable. How often should you change your furnace filter? You don’t have to wait until your filter is completely clogged and stops airflow. Do you have allergies? If so, you should change your filter more frequently than generally recommended. Are there pets living with you in your home? Even the cutest pets shed. Their hair gets everywhere including the furnace filter. Frequently check the filter to determine if it should be changed. Dirty filters make cost you money in energy as your heating system has to work harder and longer to get the warm airflow to all the parts of your home. Changing your filter more frequently could save you money, and extend the life of your heating system.
5. Consider one portable electric heater for each necessary area in your home.
For example: each bedroom could benefit from an emergency heat source. Should your heating system fail, and all other trouble-shooting tips fail to work call your local, reliable, 24-Hour heating service provider. There may be some time that passes between when you call and when your heating system begins warming your home again. In the meantime, use a portable electric heater for the necessary rooms in your home. Keeping a few electric heaters on hand will set your mind at ease if a heating-emergency should present itself. You can pick some up at your local store, or perhaps you have some in your garage, storage, or basement.
6.Collect extra electric blankets might be a good idea as well.
Electric blankets are a safe, easy way to make sure your household stays warm when a heating system fails on a cold night. They are easy to find in the local stores. You may already have some in your home. One electric blanket per bed is a good rule of thumb. Remember to shut your electric blankets off when leaving the room.
7. Print out our instructions on How to Trouble Shoot A Furnace
Keeping a paper format of the instructions on How to Trouble Shoot A Furnace is a great way to stay prepared. With the instructions in a handy location, you won’t have to go digging with freezing fingers through your other paper storage, or struggle to find them on our website. It’s just an easy way to set yourself up for success and peace of mind in these kind of emergencies.
Stay Prepared.
Always replace and replenish your Emergency Kit items as soon as you can. This emergency kit is meant to keep you prepared. If you use your emergency items and then don’t replace them, then if another emergency should arise, you will no longer be prepared. The best way to stay prepared is to keep that emergency kit together and regularly maintain that heating system. If your heating system hasn’t had a tune-up in a while, now would be a great time to schedule one. Stay prepared and stay safe!
Don’t forget to program our number in your phone:
Contact: Neighborhood Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning
Number: (888) 548-9932