01/22/2026
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With the predicted cold weather coming this weekend, we will experience temperatures and wind chills that our homes' heating systems are not designed for. Negative numbers! Newer homes will struggle to maintain temperature, and older homes will not maintain temperature. The temperature will drop while the heating system is working at full capacity.
1. Please raise the temperature in your home 2 to 4 degrees above your normal setting.
2. Take all programmable thermostats out of setback mode and set on a permanent hold.
3. If you have a furnace, replace the filter.
4. Keep garage doors closed!
5. Limit opening exterior doors.
6. Make sure air vents and radiators are not blocked or obstructed.
7. If you have a 90%+ furnace and boiler, you must keep the intake and exhaust clear of ice and snow. During these cold temperatures, ice can build up. A 90%+ furnace and boiler have two white PVC pipes: an exhaust pipe and an intake pipe that are generally on the side or back of your home.
8. Refrain from using pellet stoves or supplemental heat forms if you have a water-based heating system. The pipes will freeze.
Set faucets to drip in rooms over garages or in older homes with cold basements. Also, open cabinet doors under sinks.
If the temperature in your home is dropping and your radiators are hot with boiler systems or you have hot air coming out of your vents with furnaces, do not panic. Please make sure that your heating system continues to operate.
If the temperatures drop in your home, it will not be able to recover until temperatures rise and the wind chill diminishes. Our heating systems cannot overcome temperatures of -20 to -30. They are sized to operate at 0 degrees outdoor. Put your thermostat on hold at 70 degrees or higher.