Bitter temperatures are expected tonight and into the weekend, and VGS is urging customers to prioritize home safety during this stretch of extreme cold.
Below are important safety and comfort tips to help Vermonters prepare:
Heating & Thermostat Tips
- Maintain a steady temperature. During extreme cold, keep your thermostat at a consistent, comfortable setting. Temporarily disable automatic setback features so your furnace doesn’t need to work as hard to recover.
- Ensure doors and windows are fully closed. Seal with weatherstripping where needed to reduce heat loss.
- Use curtains or blinds at night. This helps keep warm air inside.
Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Safety
- Test carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. CO is colorless, odorless, and dangerous. Replace detectors as recommended.
- Never use a gas stove to heat your home. Do not use a generator indoors or near the home.
- Test smoke alarms. Install alarms on every level, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected alarms are best so all units sound together in an emergency.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
- Let a faucet drip. Running water at a trickle helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks. Let warm air circulate around plumbing.
- Know your water shutoff location. This can help prevent serious damage if a pipe bursts.
- Keep garage doors closed. This helps protect plumbing located above or near garage areas.
Gas Safety
- Report gas leaks immediately. Natural gas and propane have a rotten egg odor. Leave the area, call 911, and then contact your fuel supplier.
- Clear gas meters and vents. Use a broom *never a shovel* to remove snow from meters and exterior vents to prevent equipment shutdown or exhaust from backing up into the home.
- Keep sidewall vents clear. Blocked vents can force equipment offline or allow fumes to enter the home.
For more safety information, click here.