As the East Coast prepares for an extreme freeze, we wanted to share the following cold weather precautions and procedures to help residents stay safe and warm:
Pitch In:
When cold weather and extreme snow storms hit, it is important for everyone to pitch in as the maintenance and leasing staff can’t handle it all themselves. Residents should be expected to do the following:
- Clear snow around and in between vehicles.
- Place snow onto grassy areas.
- Not place snow onto sidewalks, roadways, fire hydrants or other areas that have already been cleared.
- Remove snow and ice from your driveway.
Space Heaters:
If utilizing a space heater to help further heat your apartment home, please read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully. Some key things to consider are:
- Keep it at least three feet away from any other object – including papers, clothing and rugs – and maintain a three-foot radius around the space heaters where children and pets are not allowed.
- Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or carpet. Be sure to never leave a space heater unattended, and turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep.
- Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
Ovens & Candles:
- Please do not in any instance use your oven to heat your apartment. While it is ok to cook with the oven door closed, leaving oven doors open, even just a crack, can omit carbon monoxide (CO), which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- When using candles, please do not leave them unattended or burning close to any papers, clothing, rugs or curtains.
Other Ways to Stay Warm at Home:
If you do not have a space heater there are other means you can take to help keep you and your apartment home warm and cozy.
- Place rolled up blankets or towels at the base of any exterior door – especially any patio doors. This will help keep any slight cold drafts from entering your home.
- Cover your windows with blankets or sheets to offer some protection against drafts. You can also utilize trash bags if you would rather cozy up with your blankets.
- Grab a blanket and a sweatshirt and head down to your community lounge and cozy up by the fire. Consider grabbing a hot cup of coffee or tea on your way.
No Frozen Pipes:
While the community will be doing its best to keep pipes from freezing, we ask all residents to please keep faucets running at a slow drip. This will ensure constant water circulation through the pipes and help prevent the water from standing still and freezing. Also, keep your apartment heated to at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature in your apartment falls below 60 degrees, the pipes will freeze and break, causing a leak that will more than likely affect not only your apartment home, but all those surrounding.
Additionally, please open cabinets to expose the pipes to the heat within your apartment home. This is especially important for any pipes that may be on an exterior wall.
Braving the Cold:
If you have to go outside, dress in lightweight layers. Using several thinner layers can provide better insulation than one or two thick layers. If possible, the first layer should be long underwear made out of a nonabsorbent material.
- If you have to be outside for an extended period of time, make sure your feet stay dry. This is key to keeping our bodies warm. To keep feet dry in cold, snowy weather, wear waterproof boots and socks made of fleece, IsoWool or similar type fabrics. If you don’t have waterproof boots, cover your shoes with plastic bags. While it may not be a runway look, it will keep you from getting cold.
Keeping Pets Safe & Warm:
Pets. Unfortunately, they need to go outside regardless of weather conditions. So if you are a pet owner, put booties on their paws before taking them outside. Cold air, sleet and snow can give pets chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. And if their paws aren’t covered, pets can risk exposure to dangerous chemicals from ice-melting agents that they may then lick off of their bare paws. Again, if you don’t have booties available, your socks will do the trick. And be sure to check their paws when they come inside as chunks of ice can get stuck in between their paws.
Don’t Forget Your Ice and Snow-Covered Car:
Keep your gas tank full. Cold temperatures can cause condensation to form on the walls of a nearly empty gas tank. Soon, that water can drip down into the gas. Since water is heavier than gas, it will eventually sink to the bottom of the tank, where it can make its way into the fuel lines and freeze, blocking the flow of gas into your engine and stranding you.