Cold Weather Safety Tips

Protect your Pipes

Old man winter has arrived, and that means cold weather for the months ahead. Consistently low temperatures could cause your water pipes to freeze. However, you can protect your pipes by following some of these simple steps.

• Wrap outside water lines and those exposed to the wind and cold weather with approximately one inch of insulation.
• Open cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow heat from your home to warm unexposed pipes located there.
• Leave the water dripping in sinks and bathtubs.

Conserving energy is easy

Whether you’re at work or at home, you can create a significant budgetary and environmental credit simply by taking a few small, common-sense measures.

At work:

• Turn off workstation task lighting during your breaks and at the end of your workday.
• Turn off the computer monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
• Turn off the PC and monitor if they won’t be used for more than two hours, and always at the end of your workday.

At home:

• Set the thermostat at 78 degrees when you are using the air conditioner or 68 degrees when using the heater.
• Turn off TVs, lights and unused appliances, and use energy-saving power strips.
• Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to draw warm air upward.

For more energy-saving tips, visit mlgw.com or e-mail wiseuse@mlgw.org.

Generator Safety

MLGW offers the following advice concerning generator safety and encourages owners to read, understand and follow the recommendations included in the generator owner’s manual.

Guidelines:

• The main hazards associated with using a generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electric shock, and fire.
• NEVER use a portable generator indoors – including a garage, carport, basement, crawlspace, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed area.  CO gas can build up quickly.
• A generator should only be operated outside on a dry surface away from doors, windows, and vents.  It should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy-like structure.
• DO NOT plug the generator into a wall outlet.  This practice, known as backfeeding, can cause an electrocution risk to utility workers.  This could also pose a fire hazard as the generated power may overheat your home’s wiring.  The generator, as well, could be damaged when electric services are restored.
• Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated, UL-listed cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.  Never run generator cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord could go unnoticed.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to properly operate and ground the generator.
• Handle fuel carefully.  Turn the generator off prior to refueling.  Gasoline, kerosene and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled, safety containers.  Make sure you have an adequate supply of fuel.
• Turn off or disconnect all appliances prior to operating a portable generator.  Once the generator is running, appliances powered by the generator can be turned on one at a time.
• When power is restored, make sure to unplug all appliances and lights connected to the portable generator.
• Periodically run the generator to assure it will start and run properly.
• Determine the correct generator size by adding up all lighting and any necessary appliances that need to have back-up power.