This is early December 2021 and so far, the cold-weather season has been kind to us. No snow accumulation, and no sub-freezing daytime temperatures. Woo-hoo!

Still, before you get too busy cheering for what’s already been, take some time to prepare for what might yet come – extremely cold weather, day or night.

As in, are you as prepared as you should be for extreme cold conditions? Here are some proven tips to help ensure you are.

• Dress in layers and cover as much skin as possible to prevent body heat loss, hypothermia, and frostbite.

• Go outside only when necessary and limit the amount of time you spend there.
• Avoid sweating and stay dry since water on your skin makes you colder. That’s why we sweat to begin with — it’s the body’s air conditioning system.
• Let your pets outside only long enough to take care of business.
• Equip your car with a flashlight, batteries, and blankets in case of a breakdown.
• Keep an eye and ear out for emergency information and alerts.
• Keep your space heaters on flat, level services and at least three feet away from flammable materials.
• Your oven was not meant to heat your home, so don’t use it as such.
• Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. In severely frigid temperatures, keeping water moving within the pipes will help prevent freezing.
• Don’t operate your portable generator or any other fuel-burning device unless the area is properly vented.

• Stock up on non-perishable foods and other supplies in case you need to stay home for several days – with or without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medications. Stock up on batteries for radios and flashlights, too.
• Before retiring for the evening, make sure that embers in your wood burning stove are completely extinguished.
• Check in on elderly neighbors and relatives to ensure they’re managing to keep warm or if they’re short on any provisions.
• During cold spells, keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes, particularly those in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Perhaps your worst nightmare during a cold snap is a sudden furnace breakdown. To help keep it running, even during the most trying of circumstances, contact C&D Cooling & Heating to schedule our high-quality preventive maintenance service. It’s your best assurance of warm, comfortable winter days and nights pent at home.