Protect Your Family and Home from Extreme Cold Weather

Over the next two days the Greater Lafayette area will be experiencing extremely low temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills.  Our low temperature this evening will be -15 and Thursday evening -14.  Wind chills as low as 20 to 40 below zero are expected.

Personal Safety
Over the next couple of days if you do not have to go out, it is safer to remain in your home.  Being exposed to cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

If you do have to go outside do not stay outside for long and follow these recommendations.

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Avoiding Problems in Your Home
These same extreme cold temperatures can also cause problems in your home. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your home warm when temperatures are this low.

• Furnaces are sized to warm a home using 0 degrees as the benchmark. When temperatures go below 0 degrees, your furnace can have a hard time keeping your home warm.During these really cold nights, we recommend that you DO NOT set your thermostat back when you go to bed, but set it a couple degrees higher than normal.  This allows your furnace to keep up with the cold outside and the temperature in your home more comfortable. Make sure your furnace air filter is clean. This will keep your furnace working at peak efficiency.
• Broken water lines are the most common problem that beset homeowners when temperatures get really cold. Leave your faucets dripping slowly and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach pipes that are under your sinks.  This is especially important if these pipes run along exterior walls.If you have water lines in unheated crawlspaces make sure they are wrapped in insulation.
• If you have ceiling fans in your home, they may be sitting needlessly dormant during the winter months. Reverse the direction of the fan so that it moves clockwise vs. counterclockwise.  This pushes warm air that is rising back down where it can warm the room’s occupants.
• Space heaters are excellent tools for keeping individual rooms warm as long as they are used cautiously. To ensure the safety of your household, keep flammable materials at least three feet away, and make sure the heater is on an even and stable surface. Never leave space heaters on overnight or when you leave the home.

Heating System Problems
If you experience problems with your furnace, please call us immediately.  We will do our best to get someone to your home quickly to service your heating system and keep your family warm and cozy.  Call us at Mecko’s Heating & Cooling, 765-447-7555.