Press Release from the City of Tallahassee:

The City of Tallahassee is urging citizens to take the following precautions for near and below freezing temperatures forecasted for this weekend and early next week.

Use Electricity and Gas Wisely!

City electric and natural gas customers should have adequate supplies during this cold snap, but customers are advised to contact Your Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968) if there are any problems with service. As always, customers are urged to conserve energy resources whenever possible.

Electric customers in eastern and northeastern areas of Tallahassee, however, should be prepared to conserve energy during the early morning hours, when temperatures are expected to be coldest. Heavy electric demand, particularly in these areas, could cause supplies to approach capacity. Expanded electric facilities are being built that will help alleviate these capacity concerns in the future.

If you do experience an electric power outage, turn the thermostat for your electric furnace or heat pump to the off position until electric service is restored. This will help protect your equipment and speed the restoration of electric service by reducing the immediate load requirement.

Set your home heating thermostat carefully and accurately. The recommended daytime indoor temperature in winter is 68 degrees. The nighttime setting, meanwhile, depends on the type of equipment you're using.

Electric heat pump: At night, reduce the setting to 65 degrees (or lower if you have a programmable thermostat). If you drop the overnight temperature much lower than 65, raise it slowly the next morning (only 2-3 degrees at a time) to minimize operation of costly supplemental electric heat strips. Operating costs can triple when the strips are on.

Look for a small light on the thermostat that signals strip operation.

Gas or oil furnace: At night, dial your furnace down to 60 or 55 degrees. A gas or fuel oil furnace will reheat the house quickly in the morning.

Electric resistance "strip" heating: Lower the temperature to 60 or 55 degrees overnight. Electric strip heating is the least expensive central heating system to install and the most expensive to operate. Set your thermostat low at night to avoid high costs.

Set your thermostat's FAN selection to AUTO, not to ON. Avoid the ON setting, which operates your indoor-air distribution fan nonstop - doing so increases costs and reduces comfort.

If you have a heat pump, be sure your thermostat is not accidentally set to EM HEAT or EMERGENCY HEAT. Operating costs can triple in the Emergency Heat mode.

Avoiding Frozen Water Pipes

Tremendous property damage may result if water pipes burst as a result of freezing temperatures. The City's Underground Utilities offers this advice to water customers:

Protect pipes, especially if they are exposed or the house insulation is insufficient. Homes with crawl spaces are particularly susceptible to wind and freezing temperatures, so outdoor pipes should be protected from the elements.

Run all water faucets, both hot and cold lines, at a thin stream. Also, secure the water meter covers so the meter and surrounding pipes are not exposed.

Insulate or cover exposed backflow prevention devices on fire lines and irrigation systems.

Commercial water customers should also wrap any fire lines in their buildings. Disconnect any outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.

If pipes do freeze, customers can use the valve inside their meter to shut off the supply of water to the house.

Be Safe When Using Supplemental Heating

The Tallahassee Fire Department advises residents to be extra careful when using plug-in space heaters, kerosene heaters, and fireplaces:

Make sure all combustible materials, such as drapes or chairs, are at least three feet away from any heating unit.

Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended.

Plug your electric-powered space heater directly into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
Most importantly, check your smoke detector to make sure it is working properly.

For more information on cold weather pointers, please visit the City's website at Talgov.com. Winter energy efficiency tips are featured at Talgov.com/you/energy/tips.cfm#tips , while heating equipment safety tips are available at Talgov.com/fire/fpheat.cfm .

Take Energy Saving Measures

Take advantage of the City’s ceiling insulation grant program. Through this program, the City will pay 80 percent of installation costs up to a maximum City contribution of $400. The first step to receive a grant is to schedule an energy audit.
Having a free energy audit can help you discover ways to save energy, water and money. To schedule an appointment, call 891-4YOU (4968).

For more information on cold weather pointers and winter energy efficiency tips, please visit Talgov.com.