As chilly weather approaches there are a few easy things to check off your list that will help keep you safe and may even save you some money!
TURN IT OFF
Do you know where your main water valve is?
It’s good to know in case of an emergency, especially during the colder months when pipes may freeze or burst.
It can be hard to think straight when you have a water leak, so get familiar with where it is and comfortable with knowing how to turn it off.
TURN IT DOWN
This may be an obvious one, but turning your thermostat down and layering on warmer clothes will save you money.
But, even if you like to wear shorts and keep the temp toasty, try and stick to the one temperature; constantly adjusting the thermostat can make the units work harder resulting in increased costs.
Though, don’t turn it down to low – the industry standard is to set the heat at a minimum of 60 degrees, any lower and your pipes may freeze.
There’s also a lot of new apps and smart devices that can alert you if there’s a heating problem while also providing you a convenient way to control the temp from your couch (or even when you’re out of the house).
EMERGENCY KIT
Whether it’s bad weather or a power outage – it’s a good idea to have some of these items on-hand: batteries, flashlight, snow shovel, ice melts or sand and antifreeze, if you have a generator make sure you have fuel (that is safely stored).
FIRED UP
If you have a fireplace never leave it unattended. If it’s your first fire of the season, stay in the room to ensure there is no smoke or excessive gas smell.
If you’re using a space heater, make sure it’s on a non-flammable flat surface (never use an oven or stove to heat your home).
ARM YOUR ALARMS
Speaking of fire, now is a great time to switch out your batteries in your fire and carbon monoxide alarms.
Also consider changing your air filters, with less fresh air flowing (closed windows) it’s important to make sure your filter is up for the challenge.
