Many people joke about El Nino and imagine fictional Japanese monsters, but if you have been affected by this weather phenomenon, you will be aware that it is no laughing matter. Low winter temperatures and unseasonal weather conditions can place a great deal of strain on your home’s furnace. This means that you should consider it vital to have your furnace tuned up before the adverse weather arrives.
Emergency Preparation:
Maintaining your furnace should be something that is regularly scheduled every fall, rather than just when lower temperatures and heavy rainfall is forecast. Regular servicing is the one of the most effective ways to prolong the lifespan of your system and ensure that bills don’t spiral out of control.
With the possibility of El Nino weather conditions arriving, it is important that you make specific preparations to avoid an emergency breakdown. This process should include a professional technician surveying the furnace to check for any potential problems or risks for malfunction. Research suggests that up to 85% of all repair issues on furnaces could be avoided with this type of preventative maintenance. It can also be far more convenient and cost effective than rushing to try and arrange a repair during a heavy rainstorm. Reputable and established HVAC contractors will often have a very busy schedule in bad weather, so you can avoid being left in the cold.
What To Do During Adverse Weather:
If your area is hit by El Nino, there are a number of basic precautions you can take to avoid damage to your home. In addition to keeping stocked up on food and water, and having sandbags on hand, it is important that you locate your water shut off valve. Your home can suffer a great deal of damage if you delay shutting off the water supply to a broken pipe. When the cold weather hits, ensure that any pipes inside cabinets such as under the sink have warm air circulating them. You can accomplish this by leaving interior cupboard doors open, and it is especially important where water pipes are in contact with exterior walls. If a pipe does become frozen, you should turn the faucet on to relieve pressure on the pipe. This can then be defrosted using a hairdryer to thaw the frozen area.
You will also need to check the area around your furnace to ensure that there are no flammable materials such as chemicals, paper or cardboard nearby. This can be a fire hazard when your furnace is used for prolonged periods, and residual heat builds up.
Don’t forget you will also need to be prepared for power outages. Stock up on new batteries for your flashlights and candles. You should also consider what food you have in your refrigerator and freezer, as this could potentially spoil in the event of a power outage. You can use a cooler to store any food from the refrigerator and keep it outside in the cold weather. All you then need to do is wrap up in warm clothing and keep the electrical components of your furnace running with a portable generator. This will ensure that you stay warm and comfortable to wait out the bad weather.