Frisco Home Care, Safety Tips During Winter Weather Advisory

Press release from the City of Frisco:

February 14, 2021

(February 14, 2021) Use these checklists and tips to help care for your home during the extreme winter weather, as provided by Atmos, CoServ and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) . In addition to helping you save energy and money, these tips will help by not increasing the already-high demand for natural gas and electricity.

• Set your thermostat to 68 or lower when you’re home and awake, and turn your thermostat back 5 to 7 degrees when asleep or the home is empty for more than 4 hours. (Don’t do this if you have a heat pump. Instead, set your thermostat as low as comfortable and maintain the setting.)
• Open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to heat your home, and close them at sunset to reduce the chill.
• Keep your fireplace flue closed unless a fire is burning.
• Turn down your water heater temperature setting to warm (120 degrees F).
• Run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day, typically in the early morning.
• Never use an oven or gas stovetop to heat your home.
• Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object.
• Remove snow (safely) from vents or dryers and other natural gas equipment (with a broom or brush). Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
• Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside.

Tips for Tankless Water Heaters:

• Tankless water heaters may require some preparation to avoid damage and continue safe operation, especially when located outside on a wall with northern or western exposures. Most tankless water heaters are equipped with freeze protection, but this may not be enough in high wind conditions.
  • Ensure all pipes are covered with insulation where located on the exterior of the home, in attics and garages.
  • (Another method of protection is to) Turn off the heater at the control panel and leave a small amount of water running on the hot water side at a faucet. This will protect the water heater, piping, and valves from freezing.

  • Consult your manufacturer's care and maintenance manual for recommended steps specific to your water heater. A plumber may also be a good resource to prepare your entire home for freezing weather conditions.

Stay 'Appy' during cold weather:

• Consumers can monitor grid conditions in real time by following ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and/or by downloading the ERCOT mobile app available on Google Play and in the Apple Store.
• Follow CoServ blog for updates throughout the weekend: https://www.coserv.com/News/CoServ-News/coserv-prepares-for-possible-winter-emergency

Helpful numbers:

• 911
• Atmos Energyemergency number:866-322-8667
  • If you think you smell gas, act fast! Call 911

This press release was produced by the City of Frisco. The views expressed are the author's own.