THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE SHALL BE THE HIGHEST LAW
---Marcus Tullius Cicero (a Roman Statesman,
lawyer, scholar, philosopher and Academic Skeptic)
WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS COLD
People want to be warm inside. Having a qualified HVAC contractor inspect your system before it gets cold is important. If you have to call because you have no heat and it is an emergency you may have to wait and pay a lot more than getting it checked out before the busy season.
When you turn on the gas furnace for the first time you can expect a smelly odor. This is normal because dust builds up when the furnace is off and when it's turned on, hot air consumes dust to give off a funny smell; however, it should not last long. If it does, call to get it checked out.
COVID-19 & OTHER VARIANTS
If you had COVID-19 and you no longer have smell make sure you have a qualified technician from a reputable HVAC Company do a thorough inspection and make repairs if necessary. Natural gas is odorless and Gas Companies add mercaptan to give it a rotten egg smell. You may also want to contact your Gas Company to let them know you have no sense of smell and find out what they recommend to keep you safe from gas leaks and carbon dioxide. Also, change your filters frequently and get the right size filters.
Also, if you recently had a new roof installed, it is important to have the gas lines and exhaust vents that run along the roofline inspected to make sure they weren't damaged when the roof was installed.
FIREPLACE
Holidays or anytime is the worst time to have a fire. Call a Chimney Sweep or reputable company to inspect the flue and everything cleaned out to be free of potential fire hazards.
SMOKE ALARMS/CARBON MONOXIDE DETECT0R
Never assume your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors are working. Change batteries. Have extra batteries on hand. Test and make sure they are working.
PIPES
If you don't know what to do, contact a Plumber or check local Plumber websites specific to your area to know how to prevent frozen pipes. Wind chills can be tricky and adds to temperatures dropping. For exterior spigots, purchase covers. If you have an inground swimming pool and you don't have a FREEZE GUARD, contact your local swimming pool companies to find what you need to do to protect your investment.
WHAT TO DO IN ADVANCE
Read your insurance policy. Read your insurance policy. Read your insurance policy. Make sure you have adequate insurance and know what is covered and what is not covered.
WHAT TO DO DURING AN EMERGENCY
In this digital world, don't rely on your computer or smart technology to be working if the electricity goes out. Have a paper copy of phone numbers and instructions for who you're going to call or what you need to do before there's an emergency.
AUTHORS NOTE
I survived a Hotel Fire and several Home Fires in Illinois. I was carried down a ladder from a hotel window and I've been displaced from my home with my son and our dog until it was clear for me to move back home after spring (or summer). At the time of my house fire the wind chill factor was minus 65 degrees. All we had were the clothes on our backs and not even a dog dish for water or food for pets. Take inventory and photographs. Video everything you own, and have receipts in a safety deposit box outside of your home. Have contact information handy. Material things will be depreciated. New clothes and replacement items are more today than yesterday. Have proof. Be prepared to fight for everything you lost but most of all be prepared in advance and do everything you can to avoid a fire in the first place ---Patricia Feager
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