Protect Home Warmth In Blustery Winds

PEARL RIVER, NY — Frigid air is keeping temps at or below freezing in the Hudson Valley. And bitter winds are making us feel as if it's much colder still. It feels as cold as 5-15 degrees on Wednesday, according to Hudson Valley Weather.

Wind gusts from 30-45 mph are widespread.

“Wednesday will be the coldest, and definitely the coldest-feeling, day of the season so far across most of the Northeast,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.

Because of the unusually frigid temperatures, Orange & Rockland Utilities offers these cold-weather coping tips to help you keep warm inside. These are good for houses, condos, apartments — use what works:

• Use weather-stripping at all attic stairwells and access openings for tight insulation.
• Stop cold air infiltration from electric switch and plug outlets by using draft blockers.
• Open curtains and/or shades of east, south and west-facing windows on sunny winter days to let the sun help you heat your home. Close them at night. Keep draperies closed all day on north-facing windows.
• Close all hot air vents or radiators in unused rooms. Then, close the doors to those rooms securely, using draft guards at the door bottoms if necessary. CAUTION: If you have a radiator-hot water system, be sure that the unused room does not get so cold as the temperature falls below freezing.
• Check all places where heat enters the room. Make sure the draperies and furniture do not block the flow of heat.
• Use a room or furnace humidifier or keep shallow pans of water on radiator tops or near hot air vents to add humidity to your home.
• Check the filters on your forced-air furnace every month during the heating season. Replace as necessary.
• Never use a gas oven or range, or charcoal grill to heat a room. This causes a carbon monoxide danger which could prove fatal.

A blustery cold day doesn't mean you have to spend a lot on heat. O&R also recommends:

• Turn your thermostat down to no higher than 68 degrees when you are not at home. Set the thermostat while you are a home to a reasonable temperature that meets your comfort and health needs.
• Make sure your thermostat is not affected by drafts that could skew the readings. Use a smart thermostat to automatically change the heating pattern to fit your schedule.
• Take a moment to turn off any devices or appliances you are not using.

Watch Now: Cold Snap Could Get Dangerous

(Lead image: A homeless man in Manhattan tries to stay warm on a cold day in March. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)