Laney’s Blog Staying Efficient and Warm This Winter

Laney's has recommendations for winter in your home: Schedule a furnace/fireplace inspection to ensure everything is working properly. Have space heaters and blankets available in case your furnace goes out. Then call Laney's at 701-237-0543. Create a home emergency kit. If the cold knocks the power out, it would be beneficial to have the following readily accessible: water, food, flashlights and batteries, radio, hand warmers, blankets, and a first aid kit. Create a winter survival kit for your car. In the unhappy event that your car breaks down, NDDOT (North Dakota Department of Transportation) suggests having an emergency kit in your trunk that contains several blankets or a sleeping bag, warm clothing, matches, a container for liquids, radio, flashlight and batteries, non-perishable food, a book, toilet paper, bright cloth to signal for help, and nylon rope. Keep furnace vents and gas meters clear of snow and ice. When snow and ice build up, the unit can't pull air in, which causes the unit to turn off and stop producing heat. Clearing the snow and ice allows the furnace to continue running to keep your home warm. Make sure your pipes are insulated. We have a past blog post dedicated to this topic. Check your windows and doors for proper fit and seals. Your windows and doors are a major source of energy loss in your home. Check these areas for any cold air coming in - this is an indication that they are improperly sealed. Plastic on your windows and properly sealed doors will increase your home's efficiency and save you money all winter long.