Extreme Cold Weather Safety Tips

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Helpful Tips

• During this cold season, remember not to heat your home with your barbeque, charcoal, propane patio heater, or other method intended for the outdoors as they will release carbon monoxide in your home. Generators are also intended for outdoor use only and are unsafe to use indoors.
• Check on elderly relatives and neighbors. Your ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age, and older people are more susceptible to cold-related injury or illness like frostbite or hypothermia.
• If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide them an adequate place to sleep – off the floor and away from all drafts. Make sure that they have access to unfrozen water.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Dress warmly and in layers – don’t forget the hat and gloves
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider, hot cocoa or soup. Avoid smoking and drinking caffeine or alcohol if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Keep an ample supply of firewood if you have a fireplace and NEVER burn coal
• Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze.
• Weatherproof your home by adding weather-stripping and insulation.

10-Point Furnace Efficiency Inspection

Internal Inspection

1. Look for cracked, rusted, misaligned, or clogged vents.
2. Check your flue assembly for alignment and rigidity; a small earthquake is all it takes to loosen the flue and allow the products of combustion into your home.
3. Make sure the flame is blue – a yellow flame may be a sign that the burner could be out of adjustment.
4. Inspect for soot in the burning area and vents – this can be an indication that the gas burner is not properly adjusted and requires servicing.
5. Look for cracked or frayed blower belts. *
6. Clean all dust and lint near the burning chamber. Please ensure that the thermostat is in the off position prior to cleaning.
7. Clean or replace your furnace filter and make sure the blower door is properly secured. *

External Inspection

1. Securely fasten the door that covers the pilot light and burner area. *
2. Do not store or use combustible materials or liquids near any gas appliance. *
3. Check ducts

*This should be conducted by a certified technician or PG&E gas service representative

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