I want to start off this week’s article by saying that you are doing a great job hanging in there. It is during times like we have had that it is important to think of other people as you go about your everyday business. Plan to check on loved ones and neighbors to make sure they stay warm. This is especially important for older adults and infants.
If you have a neighbor, look at their house as you drive by. Is there smoke coming out of the chimney or is there 3 feet of snow blocking their front door and you know they are home? It is a neighborly thing to give them a call and check up on them. I spent 20 years in the Army, and it was heavily stressed to use the buddy system, especially when overseas and you are going downtown in a foreign area, like Minneapolis.
At Tuesday’s Brookings County County Commission meeting, it was recommended that I talk about freezing pipes and plumbing vents, especially with the cold spell that we have been experiencing.
To keep pipes from freezing on an outside wall
- Let hot and cold-water trickle or drip at night from a faucet.
- Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or near an outer wall.
- Make sure that the heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
- If you plan to be away: (1) Have someone, check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or (2) drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
If pipes freeze
- Make sure you and your family know how to shut off the water, in case pipes burst.
- Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch. Use a hair dryer instead.
- Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
Frozen sewer vent
Have you noticed your drains, showers or toilets draining slowly, making gurgling noise or odors in your house? Check your sewer vent pipe to see if there is visible frost. If you notice a neighbors house with visible frost on sewer vents, make them aware.
Methods to unfreeze a sewer vent:
- If you can safely access the roof, remove any visible debris, carefully pour hot water down the vent pipe; a plumbing snake make be needed to break up ice blockage within the pipe; if youre not comfortable climbing the roof, consult a professional plumber.
- Opening attic access door or vent and allow warm air up the stack.
- Periodically add warm water to drains.
To prevent future freezing issues, consider installing a vent pipe cap and/or insulating the pipe with pipe wrap. Contact a professional plumber or visit your local lumber yard for more information.
Heating safety
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent, deadly killer claiming about 1,000 lives each year in the U.S.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector.
- If your heat goes out, you can keep warm indoors by closing off rooms you do not need, dressing in layers of lightweight clothing, and wearing a cap.
Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters:
- Always keep a screen around an open flame.
- Never use gasoline to start your fireplace.
- Never burn charcoal indoors.
- Do not close the damper when the ashes are hot.
- Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters. Always follow the manufacturers instructions.
Cold weather safety tips
When you are outside, frostbite and hypothermia are possible, so you need to protect yourself. Act fast if you see signs of either condition.
Frostbite is when a part of your body freezes. Your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes often are the first affected. People may experience pain, numbness, and a change of skin color.
What to do for frostbite: Move to a warm place. Warm the affected area gently by soaking in warm water (NOT hot) until the skin appears normal and feels warm. Seek emergency medical care.
Hypothermia can kill you. It occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. This causes a dangerously low body temperature. Older adults, babies, children, and people with certain health conditions are more at risk.
Shivering is one of the first signs of hypothermia; other signs include confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech.
What to do for hypothermia: Seek emergency medical care right away. Move to a warm place. Remove any wet clothing and warm the body slowly.
When weather conditions are cold, wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, a hat and mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry and out of the wind. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
Protecting your pets
Winter can be a particularly difficult time for pets. Give your pet a safer, healthier weather season by following these tips:
- A temperature of 10F or below is too cold for any pet to tolerate. The physical stress of cold temperatures can make pets more susceptible to illness or infection.
- Provide outdoor dogs or cats with a dry, insulated pet house or shelter out of the wind. Staying warm demands extra calories, so increase your pets food intake, particularly protein.
- Remove ice, salt, and caked on mud from your pets paws and coat right away. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has frostbite. Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white, or gray, and it may be scaly or sloughing.
Take care of yourself
- Its normal to have a lot of bad feelings, stress, or anxiety.
- Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress.
Stay safe, stay alert and keep an eye on the sky!
Bob the EM.
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