FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA ALERT AND CONSUMER ADVISORY~
WHAT HOMEOWNERS NEED TO KNOW TO AVOID FREEZING PIPES AND KEEP SAFE DURING ARCTIC BLAST.
*RE-SET PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS TO AT LEAST 60 TO 65 DEGREES.
*CLEAR SNOW FROM EXHAUST VENTS OF HEATING SYSTEMS.
*BE SURE TO CLOSE GARAGE DOORS.
Cromwell, CT: With the tremendous cold slamming our state, the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association (CEMA) is advising consumers to take steps to avoid frozen pipes and potential life threatening situations.
CEMA, which represents 600 family owned and operated home heating oil companies in Connecticut, advises consumers to change the settings on their programmable/setback thermostats to maintain at least 60 to 65 degrees.
Areas of your home that may not be well insulated should be of particular concern (basements, pipes located on the outside wall, etc.) If you have manual thermostats, set them at or above 60 degrees. Be sure to close garage doors
Finally, when it snows, please be sure to shovel a path for your home heating oil delivery driver. Homeowners need to clear snow from the exhaust vents of their heating systems. Vents are located on the side of homes and can easily become blocked by high snowdrifts. When vents become blocked, they result in heating system malfunctions and carbon monoxide gas getting into the home, creating an extreme safety hazard. Make sure exhaust vents are clear of all obstructions.