Safety & Preparedness in Inclement Weather

Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning wants to ensure your family is safe in the case the power goes out in your neighborhood due to inclement weather. We have put together some safety and preparedness tips to help get you through till the lights come back on!

GAS & ELECTRIC FURNACES

Did Your Home Lose Power?

1. For your safety, immediately shut down your furnace using the power switch (looks like a light switch located on or very near your furnace) or by your breaker panel (look for the breaker marked for your furnace).

Shutting off the power will eliminate the likelihood of shorting out the circuit board in your furnace. As the power is restored to your home, you could experience a power surge, and this could cause damage to the circuit board. Circuit boards that are damaged as a result of a power outage are not considered covered under warranty per the manufacturer.

Power Fully Restored?

1. Check the air filter first.

It should be clean. If it is not clean, leave it out of your furnace before restarting. A dirty filter is the number one cause of equipment failure. It is better to run your furnace without a filter than with a dirty one until you can get it replaced.

1. Turn the power back on to your furnace.
2. Make sure your thermostat is still set to heat and to your desired temperature. Please note if your home cooled off quickly, it will take some time to get it back up to temperature. Please be patient with this process. It can take up to 5+ minutes to restart/reset your furnace after a power outage.

HOT WATER TANKS – TANKLESS UNITS – POWER VENTED WATER TANKS

Your standard hot water tank should have a standing pilot light, which will give you the ability to maintain your hot water; however, the re-lighting procedures should be on the tank if the pilot light turns off for any reason.

Did Your Home Lose Power?

1. Turn off the power to your hot water tank through the breaker panel.

Tankless water heaters & power vented water tanks will not work without electricity as they have an electronic ignitor, and/or an electronic power vent system. Like furnaces, turn off the power through the breaker panel. This will help eliminate the possibility of damaging the circuit board.

Power Restored?

2. Follow the reset procedures in your owner’s manual once the power is restored.

STORM SAFETY PREPARATION TIPS

While it’s always helpful to have a stocked Ready Kit on hand, here are some actions you can take before the storm arrives.  Following these tips will help keep you and your family safe, during and after the storm.

1. Check and clear storm drains of leaves or debris. This will help to prevent localized flooding. During and after the storm, please be mindful of downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.
2. Know where the manual release lever is and how to operate it on an electric garage door opener. Otherwise, it may be a good idea to park your car(s) outside in an allowable location.
3. Keep your car’s gas tank full as gas stations rely on electricity, too.
4. Make sure you have battery operated flashlights and lanterns. Candles cause fires!
5. Charge your cell phone while you have power. Like many of us, you may not have a land line any longer. Now might be a good time to invest in a portable charger.
6. Dress in layers. Stay warm by dressing in layers and cozy blankets.
7. Store canned and dry food, and bottles of water for emergencies. They keep well and limit the need to open the refrigerator. The longer you can keep your refrigerator closed, the better off the contents will be. Food Safety Pro Tip: Before a power outage, freeze a cup of water and then place a quarter on top of the solid ice. Once the power returns if the quarter is still on top of the ice or in the upper 25% of the cup, then your food in your freezer did not thaw out and is safe to eat.  If the quarter is at the bottom, your food was fully defrosted during the power outage and is dangerous to consume.
8. Always report power outages and downed power lines to your electric company. Downed powerlines can be very dangerous, so steer clear and leave it to the professionals.

BOB’S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

In the event of an emergency, you can always call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning’s emergency service line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-840-3346. With non-emergencies, feel free to schedule an appointment online. Each of our technicians has the experience and training they need to complete HVAC installation and repair services. Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning also proudly partners with organizations focused on sustainability and innovation, including Built Green, Energy Star, and Puget Sound Energy.