TIPS TO FEND OFF UPCOMING ARCTIC TEMPS
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on Monday, January 28, 2019
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TIPS TO FEND OFF UPCOMING ARCTIC TEMPS
WAVERLY, Iowa (January 28, 2019) – This week is looking to be a record temperature breaker and Waverly Utilities wants you to be prepared.
Monday night through Thursday, Waverly will experience temperatures and wind chills our homes' heating systems are not designed for. It is predicted Waverly will have -20 to -30-degree temperatures with wind chills into -40 and up to -50+.
Newer homes will struggle to maintain temperature. Older homes will most likely not maintain temperatures as the temperature will drop while the heating system is working at full capacity.
Here are some tips to help your heating system during this arctic weather:
- Raise the temperature in your home as soon as possible two to four degrees above your normal setting
- Open cabinet doors for heat to reach your pipes
- Please replace your furnace filter
- Keep garage doors closed
- Limit opening exterior doors
- Make sure air vents and radiators are not blocked or obstructed
- Make sure nothing is blocking outside vents and that snow or ice has not built up inside them.
- Close blinds/drapes at night to keep the heat in
If the temperatures drop in your home, your furnace may not be able to recover until temperatures rise and the wind chill diminishes. By raising your temp in the house, it also buys you some time in the case your furnace goes out.
“Iowa’s heating systems are sized to operate at -10 degrees outdoors. It will become very hard to overcome when temperatures reach -20 to -30,” states Curt Atkins, operations director with Waverly Utilities. “We recommend you set your thermostat a few degrees higher the next few days. Energy efficiency is very important but in these conditions, staying safe and warm come first.”