RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Get ready to brace yourselves for a cool Monday. It’s gotten colder, marking our coldest temps so far this season.
A positive about the cold: 8News Meteorologist Tim Pandajis says the freeze will knock off some lingering pesky mosquitoes. Also, those with allergies may stop sneezing and sniffling because ragweed will stop floating around.
The cool temps are a wake up call to remind you to give your heating and cooling system a check up.
“Of course you always want to have your system serviced and that includes replacing your filter on a regular basis,” says Steffen Meade with Universal Heating and Plumbing. “A good quality maintenance on your heating and air conditioner equipment will really help it last a lot longer and may prevent a break down, but also check for cracks around windows and doors and install weather stripping if it needs it.”
Click here for a comprehensive report about safely and efficiently heating your home.
The cold weather can be extremely hard on your car, but here are some tips to keep you moving:
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated,
- Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up,
- Inspect your car battery, even if you think it may last through the winter.
If you don’t already have one tucked away in your car, load up a winter preparedness kit full of essentials you’ll need to stay warm and safe.
Don’t forget your furry friends. It’s important to remember that pets require special care when the temperature drops. If they were outside overnight, this is a good time to bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
Freezing temperatures can mean more fire hazards in our homes, too. If you’re using a space heater, remember the three feet rule: keep it on a hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away — things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs.
Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed. Additionally, if you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Get more fire prevention tips here.
Click here to find tons of additional information about cold weather safety from the Red Cross.
