Wintertime
Is Here
Winter is almost here. Goodbye fall.
The official arrival for the winter season is 5:23 p.m. EST today (December 21), according to the National Weather Service.
Here are tips to help save you dough this winter:
- Add layers of clothing to keep yourself warm instead of turning the heat up
- Check for leaks of carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless and toxic gas
- Seal door and window cracks and leaks, caulking, filling, insulating and/or weather-stripping them
- Clean out or have your chimney swept
- Have furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys, generators and other heat- and energy-related equipment inspected regularly by a professional for leaks or malfunctioning parts
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Lower the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, especially when asleep or away
- Reset your ceiling fan to the low setting in reverse (clockwise) to re-circulate warmer air
- Wrap your water heater in a blanket because of every little bit of insulation helps
Here are some ideas to help keep you safe:
- If you smell a strong odor of gas, leave the area immediately and call 911 or your local fire department from outside the home
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heating equipment such as fireplaces, furnaces, portable space heaters and wood stoves
- Never use your oven to heat your home
- Portable generators should be operated outdoors at least 25 feet from a home or building
- Turn off portable heaters when going to bed or leaving a room
