Matt Hoot's Top Winter Storm and Freezing Temperature Safety Tips 

With winter conditions and storms, it’s important to think through ways to stay safe and protect ourselves and our homes. Especially in locations where colder weather is unusual.  Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. in Atlanta shares his top safety tips for occupied homes and also things to think about when planning construction and renovations.  Some top tips from Matt in this video: 

 

• Use flashlights, not candles, whenever possible in the event of a power outage. Candles generate pollutants including fine dust, or pm 2.5.  Without a filter running, the pollutants will build up and degrade indoor air quality.  That’s a concern aside from the obvious fire risk. 
• Water pipes should have at least 6” of insulation on outside walls to reduce the risk of freezing.  A dripping faucet will reduce the risk of freezing if you have concerns about the amount of insulation. (And don’t forget to turn those faucets off later!) 
• Generators must be located outside for safety, as no combustion appliances should be located inside a building without proper ventilation.  Additionally, don’t locate generators near an open door or anywhere air enters the home.  If a power cable is used through an opening and the generator is close, CO and other combustion pollutants will enter the home. 
• Watch out for ice, especially in places where you might not used to cold weather - you can’t always see it!  Use salt to melt ice, and avoid creative unproven methods (like lemon pepper) for melting ice that are not sure to work. 

 

 

What are your top safety and heath tips for cold weather and storms?  Where are you located, and what has surprised you in terms of the conditions and things we can all o to stay safe?