Trying to keep warm during the cold winter months could lead to a chilling utility bill when it arrives next month.
When it's cold, the heating units at your home will run longer to keep the house at a comfortable temperature. In addition, freezing weather can lead to frozen pipes, which will cause many additional problems!
KUB offers these tips to stay warm and not max out your bill:
- Keep the thermostat set between 65 and 68 degrees and lower the thermostat when away from home or sleeping. You should dress in layers even inside the house.
- Make sure you’re not losing heat through leaks and drafts. Insulating and sealing your windows and doors can stop heat loss. Rolled-up towels can help as a short term solution for leaks and drafts.
- Replace air filters and keep heating and A/C units clean. Dirty filters can slow down air flow, making it harder to circulate warm air.
- Disconnect hoses and cover outside faucets.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks and vanities to keep warm air circulating around pipes, and let faucets drip into a open drain.
- Locate and test your home’s water cut-off so that if pipes do freeze, you can shut the water off immediately.
- Don't thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame or torch. Breaks to home water lines should be repaired as soon as possible by a licensed plumber.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure to close the damper when it's not in use to avoid losing heat up the chimney.
If you have a power outage, you should report it by calling 524-2911 or logging on to www.kub.org on a computer, tablet, or smart phone,
You can view existing power outages here.
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