01/22/2026
We have cold weather coming let’s be proactive and do the following.
Thermostat Batteries. Change them.
Fuel levels? Oil, LP, Wood, Pellets..... Check them, have some extra if possible. They go quick at 40 below...
Heat Tape? Check it, change it if questionable. $30 heat tape is a lot cheaper than a frozen water system.
Direct vent boilers/furnaces/heaters, check your vents, shovel them out if need be.
For those of you who have net-zero, high-efficiency, passive, incredibly well-insulated homes, you will be fine. For the rest of us, this is NOT heat pump weather. Turn them off and turn on your conventional heating system.
For those of you who have second homes, this is not the weather to be thrifty. Turn your heat up. 45-50 degrees is not warm enough. Monitor your homes, either remotely or cook your neighbor some brownies and have them physically check it. No smart thermostat in the world replaces a real human doing a quick walk-through to make sure there are no issues.
Mobile home owners, remember, the only thing that keeps underneath warm is your furnace. If you are supplementing with a wood stove or electric heaters, make sure your furnace still runs periodically to warm up underneath.
Kitchen sink on a cold wall? Open that cabinet.
