Prevent Frozen Pipes — Running just one faucet with a small trickle of water when temperatures drop below freezing can prevent water from freezing in your pipes. The faucets farthest from your water source will make this more effective.

 

Protect Outdoor Faucets — Use fiberglass or foam sleeves to wrap outdoor faucets and secure them with tape or foil to keep them insulated. If specialized materials aren’t available, household items like old newspapers, rags and towels can serve as effective alternatives.

 

Heat Safely — Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Not only is this ineffective, but it can also create a fire and fume hazard. Instead, rely on space heaters, but keep these away from flammable fixtures like curtains.

 

Power Outages — If you lose power, stay in the interior parts of your home to retain heat. When using a generator for temporary power, ensure it is placed outdoors, at least 20 feet away from windows, doors or vents. Never operate a generator indoors, in a garage or under a carport due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

Seal Drafts — Check for drafts around doors and windows and seal them with weatherstripping, caulk or rolled-up towels to keep cold air out and warm air in.

 

Emergency Supplies — Prepare an emergency kit with essentials such as blankets, batteries, flashlights, bottled water and a portable phone charger.

 

Maintain Safe Heating Practices — Always turn portable heaters or other similar products off when leaving the room or going to bed.