An efficient furnace can help a family stay warm and comfortable in winter when the chilly weather reigns outdoors. However, homeowners only buy furnaces once every few years, so they wonder what they should consider when selecting a furnace besides the price.
Choosing a furnace seems like a balancing act where buyers consider one factor without overlooking its effect on the other factors. These factors include efficiency, safety, size, and cost-effectiveness. But weighing the furnace options is usually easier said than done. This article will help furnace buyers select the best one for their home.
Ridgewood Nj the national Weather Service warns of Below Zero Wind Chills Tonight into Saturday Morning. An arctic cold front will move across the region early this morning, bringing some of the coldest air of the season. Along with gusty winds approaching 40 mph, this will produce wind chills of 5 to 15 below zero Friday night into Saturday morning. Some isolated values of less than 15 below are possible. With an anomalously warm winter, many are not acclimated to such cold temperatures and such cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
The changes in weather temperatures are one which we cannot control. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, the effect on weather temperatures can determine whether one books the next appointment with the dermatologist or not.
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County commissioners have purchased a $51,290 Tesla Y, for use by police. The commissioners did so fueling the debate over the practicality of electric vehicles for police use.
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric & Gas, New Jersey’s largest utility, is monitoring the forecast and preparing for the strong winds, heavy snow and possible flooding Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. These conditions may cause tree limbs to break and pull down wires, causing power interruptions. PSE&G has a full complement of staff ready to respond, has performed system checks on critical transmission and distribution equipment, and performed logistics checks to ensure the availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies.
When winter approaches, you might think that there won’t be as many fun activities to introduce to your kids. After all, during the summer, you have countless activities to choose from, such as swimming, camping, and outdoor sports that you practice on the back like volleyball, not to mention that there’s always a summer camp somewhere. But, the winter season comes with its own charm and ideas. So, on that note, let’s take a look at how you can keep your little one entertained this winter.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water would like to remind our customers to protect their exposed water pipes from the cold weather. For exposed pipes that are susceptible to freezing, let the cold water drip from the faucet; even a trickle can help prevent pipes from freezing. Water expands when it freezes so frozen pipes can lead to breaks.
Please be prepared and locate the Shutoff Valves in your home: water heaters and pipes have been known to break. Faucets sometimes run like fountains. When these things occur you should be able to turn them off at their designated locations. Most sinks and toilets have their own shutoff valves. The hot-water heater also has a shutoff valve. It is not uncommon that bathtubs and showers don’t have shutoff valves since the plumbing is usually behind the wall. You should become familiar with the shutoff valves and check to see if they work properly including the main shutoff valve for the entire house. The main shutoff valve is normally located where the water pipe enters the house. If any of these are faulty you should contact a plumber.
Ocean City NJ, how cold is it , its so cold that annual Polar bear plunges planned in two Jersey Shore towns on New Year’s Day have been cancelled because organizers think it will be just too cold outside.
“Err on the side of safety” , Ventnor officials have postponed the event and Ocean City officials announced Thursday that their plunge had also been canceled due to the bitter cold. It’s not clear if the annual fundraising events will be rescheduled.
If you are still determined Polar bear plunges are still being planned for Monday in the nearby towns of Brigantine and Margate.
Ridgewood Nj , you know that real winter weather is coming and the Ridgewood Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 47
reminds us that now would be a great time to review cold weather safety.
Snow-buried hydrants present unusual fire hazards across North Jersey . The responsibility for keeping hydrants clear of snow varies from town to town.
If you have a fire hydrant in front of your house, help yourself and help your neighbors by keeping it clear of snow. Ridgewood Police and Fire Departments urge resident to clear a path around the hydrant of 3 feet by 3 feet .
Top Ten Red Cross Cold Weather Safety Tips
Protect yourself, your loved ones and your home with these cold weather safety tips!
Posted February 18, 2015
As temperatures drop this winter, the American Red Cross offers ten steps people can take to stay safe during the cold weather.
1. Layer up! Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing your body heat.
2. Don’t forget your furry friends. Bring pets 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.
3. Remember the three feet rule. If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs.
4. Requires supervision – Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
5. Don’t catch fire! If you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
6. Protect your pipes. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
7. Better safe than sorry. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid a more costly repair job if your pipes freeze and burst.
8. The kitchen is for cooking. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
9. Use generators outside. Never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.
10. Knowledge is power. Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, cautions that while carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a year-round threat, it is more common in cold weather when more fuel heating appliances are in use. PSE&G urges customers to take extra preventative measures this winter to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and maintain a heightened awareness of the symptoms.
CO is odorless, tasteless and can be deadly. Small amounts of CO are in the air whenever fuel such as oil, natural gas, coal or wood is burned. These amounts are usually not harmful. However, if a heating system or chimney is not working properly, too much CO can build up in the air and cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Symptoms can occur immediately or gradually after long-term exposure. People who are sleeping can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing any of these warning signs. It affects people of all ages, but infants and children are even more susceptible than adults.
For safety’s sake:
The first line of defense against CO poisoning is to make sure all fuel-burning appliances operate and are maintained properly. These appliances include furnaces, water heaters, ranges, space heaters, and clothes dryers. Improperly vented fireplaces and charcoal grills can also give off CO. Never use ovens or clothes dryers to heat the house.
Install carbon monoxide detectors as back-up protection, not as a substitute for proper use and maintenance of the fuel-burning appliances. CO alarms can provide an early warning to consumers before CO builds up to a dangerous level. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends placing a carbon monoxide alarm in every area of your house or business. If just one alarm is installed, it should be placed near the sleeping rooms of the house. Check the batteries regularly.
Do not allow vehicles, lawnmowers, snow blowers or any gasoline powered engine to idle in a garage, basement or any enclosed space.CO can drift into the living space and create a hazardous situation.
Be prepared: In your mobile phone, program the emergency service line of your natural gas provider. PSE&G’s emergency service line is 1-800-880-PSEG (7734).
If you think high levels of CO are in your home or business: Go outside! If there’s a medical emergency, such as someone falling unconscious, get the person outside to fresh air and call 911. Then call PSE&G’s emergency service line. Wait outside, or go to a neighbor’s home, until help arrives.
* IMPACTS…THE FRIGID CONDITIONS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE
VENTURING OUTSIDE. PROLONGED EXPOSURE MAY CA– USE FROSTBITE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES.
FEMA Tips – Be Safe in Dangerously Low Temperatures
Dangerously low temperatures are in the forecast and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants individuals and families to be safe when faced with the hazards of cold temperatures.
“Subfreezing temperatures can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions,” said Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA Regional Administrator. “It is important for everyone to monitor their local weather reports and take steps now to stay safe during times of extreme cold temperatures.”
During cold weather, you should take the following precautions:
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit your exposure to the cold;
• Dress in layers and keep dry;
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who are at risk and may need additional assistance;
• Know the symptoms of cold-related health issues such as frostbite and hypothermia and seek medical attention if health conditions are severe;
• Bring your pets indoors or ensure they have a warm shelter area with unfrozen water;
• Make sure your vehicle has an emergency kit that includes an ice scraper, blanket and flashlight – and keep the fuel tank above half full.
You can find more information and tips on being ready for winter weather and extreme cold temperatures at www.ready.gov/winter. You can also follow Ready online on Twitter at twitter.com/ReadydotGov and on Facebook at facebook.com/readygov.
