Preparing for impending winter weather

January 12, 2024

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The buzz around the Tennessee Valley is about the weather to come next week.

While the story on Friday was about the rain and heavy winds moving across the Tennessee Valley, focus will completely shift next week as very cold air and potentially winter weather will move across the Tennessee Valley.

Here’s some of the stuff you and your family can do today to be ready for the cold blast.

Daphne Kirksey of the Tennessee American Water recommended to protect your pipes, “Look for any exposed pipes that could be like in a crawl space, basement, and you can cover those up with cloth or if you want to make another run to the hardware store, insulation.”

There are actions you can take if your pipes freeze with the main tip being to shut off your water, and then use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw the pipes, but not other kinds of warming devices.

Kirksey said, “We definitely don’t recommend using a kerosene type heater at all.”

Some other tips Chattanooga Gas recommends include:

Check sprinkler or irrigation systems. Make sure you have turned everything off and fully drained the system.
Prevent pipes from freezing. Keep water moving through the pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run. Consider collecting the water for later use like watering plants. Also, the cost of a short-term trickle is much less costly than a repair of a burst pipe.
Keep your pipes warm. Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.
Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and double check for any additional cracks and leaks.

EPB says they are prepared for the winter weather.

Sophie Moore, the PR Specialist for EPB, said, “EPB’s increased staffing and added on call teams to make sure we are prepared to respond to outages should they occur. A lot of times in storms like this wind is the big factor that leads to outages, and we’re prepared to address those.”

They recommend to set your temperature to 68 and then lower it by one degree a day to your comfort level to reduce energy use.

Moore said, “If you think about what uses the most energy in your home it’s your H-VAC, and it’s going to work a lot harder.”

EPB also recommends:

Wear layers and use energy-efficient electric blankets to stay warm.
Reverse ceiling fans to rotate clockwise.
Keep exterior doors, windows and garage doors closed as much as possible.
Keep window coverings open on sunny sides of your home for a free heat source. Close them on shady sides.
Turn off everything when you leave a room.
If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper or flue is closed so air doesn’t escape.
Stay away from downed power lines and poles and report them by calling EPB at 423-648-1372 or through the MyEPB app.
Keep track of power outages and get notifications on the Smart Grid through the MyEPB app.

Chattanooga Gas says they want customers who are considering using a generator to contact them first to ensure compatibility.

The Director of Regional Operations for Chattanooga Gas, Paul Leath, said, “Please give us a call before you invest in anything so we size your gas line to make sure we can supply you for your current needs plus a generator.”

They recommend only using generators outside as there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in non-ventilated areas.

Leath said, “You shouldn’t put it in your garage, you should not put it in your home.”

Other tips Chattanooga Gas had includes:

Customers are encouraged to know the location of their gas meter.
Following a weather emergency, ensure the gas meter is visible, and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used during storm clean-up may damage the meter if it is hidden.
Snow and ice may weigh down power lines and tree limbs, causing them to fall. If a natural gas meter is damaged or underground gas line is exposed, leave the area immediately and call the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line, 1-866-643-4170, from a safe location.
To ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances, such as a furnace and water heater, and to prevent a potentially hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide, customers are encouraged to ensure that outdoor vent openings and air intakes are not obstructed by snow or ice.
If a natural gas meter is damaged or gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response number at 1-866-643-4170.
Weather conditions can cause trees to become uprooted. Downed trees could become tangled in underground utility lines. Before removing downed trees, customers are encouraged to call Tennessee 8-1-1 to have the location of underground utility lines marked.
Customers are advised to leave their natural gas service on during a severe storm. Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out.
If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are under water, customers are advised not to operate their appliances until a safety inspection is conducted.
If customers smell the rotten egg odor that is often associated with natural gas, they should immediately leave the affected area and call the 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-643-41701 from a safe location.
Residents should never try to identify the source of a leak themselves.
If the odor of gas is present, do not use a telephone or cellular phone, turn light switches on or off, operate any appliance or do anything that might cause a spark, such as lighting a match.