Tips for safe home heating during freeze warning

With freezing temperatures expected tonight and potentially overnight Thursday and Friday, families will use furnaces and heaters to stay warm. To make sure you’re heating your home safely, review the following simple tips to stay warm during this cold snap.

• Test your smoke detectors regularly, and make sure you have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home.
• Never use propane heaters, barbecues, hibachis – or any heater with an open flame – indoors. They produce carbon monoxide, a clear, odorless gas that can be fatal to humans and animals.
• When using electric space heaters, make sure they are completely unobstructed on all sides, and turn them off when leaving the room.
• Never use an appliance like a kerosene heater, propane gas grill or heater, stove, oven or dryer to heat your home.
• When using a properly ventilated fireplace:
  • Get your chimney inspected and/or cleaned annually by a professional.
  • Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to protect against sparks, and make sure your damper is open before lighting.
  • Never leave a fire unattended.
  • Never use lighter fluid or any other type of accelerant to start your fire.
• Always keep children and pets away from heat sources.
• Keep flammable materials such as clothing and blankets away from heat sources.

Cold weather can make it tough for some families to stay warm, so SMUD offers programs to help low-income customers save on their electric bills. Eligible customers can take advantage of SMUD’s Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR), a discount rate that can save customers money on their bill. EAPR customers may also be eligible for our residential weatherization program. Qualified customers can, at no cost to them, have their homes and apartments weatherized to improve energy efficiency and keep down energy costs.

Additional information on safe home heating and SMUD’s EAPR program are available at smud.org/Safety or by calling 888-742-7683.